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- "かれはパンツをはきます。"
"かれはパンツをはきます。"
Translation:He wears underwear.
82 Comments
771
This was my immediate thought too. Pants = trousers. Shitagi means underwear/undergarments.
771
I checked with a friend recently - she said pantsu has been used to mean underpants but currently people use both pantsu and zubon for pants/slacks (also I'm guessing that pantsu is prob also used for underpants still, the meaning is evolving so that now it is used for either). She didn't say anything about shitagi. I don't think I asked about that and my guess is it's probably not used all that often now - not sure what the modern word for underpants might be.
1519
Japanese teacher here... I have always used パンツ to mean WOMEN'S underwear, the lacy kind. It's from the word "panties."
However, young whippersnappers nowadays are using it to mean "slacks/ pants." But I would never ever imagine パンツ to be tidy whities or boxers. I would use したぎ(下着) (literally: underclothes) for that.
2223
For what it's worth, a Google image search for "パンツ" gives me a fairly even mix of underwear and trousers.
771
I would certainly think all the clothing items you mentioned would be used with hakimasu.
I looked on Jisho.org: 履く = "hakimasu" = to wear (lower body, waist down) 着る = "kimasu" = to wear (from the shoulders down)
I've read the comments about underwear vs trousers vs pants vs zubon (trousers) vs shitagi (underwear). I've tried "slacks" (that's a no). I haven't tried "panties." I translated this sentence to a simple, straightforward "He wears trousers." DL marked it incorrect and indicated it means "He wears underwear." Okay. I hope I never encounter this sentence again because I don't see the point of discussing underwear in general conversation unless it's bullet-proof or has magical properties. On a positive note, I did learn the difference between kimasu and hakimasu from several comments. Thank you for that.
2977
"Underwear" is one of those English words that are uncountable, meaning you can't assign an indefinite article to. Saying "an underwear" will sound very strange to a native English speaker.
231
Just did a Google image search for パンツ and got men's underwear, women's underwear and long pants/trousers.
There's a Japanese song for パンツ (終わりなきパンツ / endless underwear). I really enjoyed the rhythm. Hope I can understand the lyric after I finish the course. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hZopRaC7-E
771
Pantsu is the Japanese word in romaji - it's not English. That's why it was considered incorrect.