Basic Terms
着物		Kimono
着付け		Kitsuke	The art and process of dressing in kimono
振袖		Furisode	Long-sleeved kimono for young women
訪問着		Houmongi	Formal visiting wear kimono
留袖		Tomesode	Short-sleeved kimono
黒留袖		Kuro-tomesode	Black kimono with designs on hem
色留袖		Iro-tomesode	Coloured kimono with designs on hem
色無地		Iromuji	Solid-coloured kimono
江戸小紋		Edo-komon	Pattern of tiny dots that looks solid
付け下げ		Tsukesage	Semi-formal kimono
小紋		Komon	Casual all-over pattern
浴衣		Yukata	Cotton summer kimono
踊		Odori	Kimono for dance
家紋		Kamon	Family crest
アンサンブル			Ensemble
帯		Obi	Waist sash
丸帯		Maru obi	Formal (semi-obsolete) obi
袋帯		Fukuro obi	Full-width formal obi
昼夜帯		Chuuya obi	Reversible "day/night" obi
名古屋帯		Nagoya obi	Versatile obi with narrow part
半巾帯		Hanhaba obi	Narrow casual obi
兵児帯		Heko obi	Soft, very casual obi
帯揚げ		Obiage	Scarf to cover bustle pad in obi
帯締め		Obijime	Decorative cord to tie obi
三分紐		Sanbu-himo	Thin obijime to be worn with obidome
帯留		Obidome	Brooch/jewelry for front of obi
しごき帯		Shigoki obi	Scarf-like accessory for below obi
袴		Hakama	Pleated skirt-like garment worn over kimono
襟		Eri	Collar
羽織		Haori	Short, open jacket
道行		Michiyuki	Longer jacket with closing front placket
雨		Ama	(rain - use for search with coats, shoes)
トンビインバネス		Tonbi Coat	Victorian-style overcoat
草履		Zori	Dressy sandals for wear with kimono
下駄		Geta	Wooden sandals for casual wear
おこぼ		Okobo	High platform sandals worn by maiko
ポックリ		Pokkuri	High platform sandals worn by maiko
巾着		Kinchaku	Drawstring purse
襦袢		Juban	Under-robe
足袋		Tabi	Traditional split-toe socks
小物	こもの	Komono	Small accesories
たとう紙		Tatoshi	Storage wrappers
簪		Kanzashi	Hair ornaments
櫛		Kushi	Combs
笄		Kogai	Hair sticks
芸者		Geisha
芸子		Geiko	Kyoto dialect for Geisha
舞子	舞妓	Maiko	Apprentice Geiko
花魁		Oiran	Courtesan
太夫		Tayuu	Courtesan
引き摺り		Hikizuri	Trailing formal kimono
裾引き		Susohiki	Trailing formal kimono
だらり帯		Darari obi	Dangling obi worn by maiko
鬘		Katsura	Wig
日本髪		Nihon Gami Katsura	Specific style of wig
高島田		Takashimada Katsura	Specific style of wig
うちかけ		Uchikake	Wedding over-robe
白無垢		Shiromuku	White wedding kimono
掛下	かけした	Kakeshita	Wedding kimono (white or coloured)
結婚式		Kekkonshiki	Wedding
喪服	もふく	Mofuku	Mourning dress/Funeral attire
十二単		Juunihitoe	Twelve-layered Heian robe
Sizes & Dimensions
身丈		Mitake	Length of entire garment
袖丈		Sodetake	Length of sleeve
裄		Yuki	Width of garment from mid-seam to cuff
巾		Haba	Width (non-specific)
肩巾		Katahaba	Width of shoulder
後		Ato	Width of back
Jidai -  時代 - Japanese Traditional Eras
江戸		Edo	1603 - 1868
明治		Meiji	1868 - 1912
大正		Taisho	1912 - 1926
昭和		Showa	1926 - 1989
平成		Heisei	1989 - 2019
令和		Reiwa	2019 - Present
Traditional patterns and techniques
矢羽		Yabane or Yagasuri	Arrow feather
佐賀錦		Saga-nishiki	Brocade woven with gold paper
市松		Ichimatsu	Checks
丸		Maru	Circle
丸文		Marumon	Circular crest
巴		Tomoe	Comma-like design
菱		Hishi	Diamond/Lozenge pattern
花菱		Hanabishi	Diamond flower crest
壷垂れ		Tsubodare	Dripping-jug-glaze design
西陣		Nishijin	Famous woven textile
子		Rinzu	Figured silk or satin
絣		Kasuri	Geometric “splash” woven pattern
博多		Hakata	Geometric weave
裾模様		Susomoyo	Hem design (pattern location)
藍染め		Aizome	Indigo dye
格子		Koushi	Lattice pattern
紅型		Bingata	Okinawan bright stencil dyeing
水玉		Mizutama	Polka dot
青海波		Seigaiha	Repeating wave
七宝		Shippou	Seven Gems/Seven Treasures
縞		Shima	Stripe
唐草		Karakusa	Swirl or arabesque
亀甲		Kikkou	Tortoise shell pattern
立涌		Tatewaku	Vertical curved lines
織る		Ori	Weave
銘仙		Meisen	Woven silk pattern
Materials
琥珀		Kohaki	Amber
綿		Men	Cotton
蒔絵		Makie	Gold dust inlay
象牙		Zoge	Ivory
立涌		Urushi	Lacquer
袷		Awase	Lined kimono
亜麻布		Amanuno	Linen, hemp
螺鈿		Raden	Mother-of-pearl
ポリエステル		Poriesuteru	Polyester
じんけん		Jinken	Rayon
絹		Kinu	Silk
金紗		Chirimen	Silk crepe
紗		Sha	Silk gauze for summer
絽		Ro	Silk gauze with sheer stripe
合成		Gosei	Synthetic
鼈甲		Bekko	Tortoiseshell
単		Hitoe	Unlined kimono
ようもう		Yomo	Wool
Motifs - 花 - Hana - Flowers
桔梗		Kikyo	Bellflower
椿		Tsubaki	Camellia
桜		Sakura	Cherry blossom
枝垂桜		Shidarezakura	Weeping cherry blossom
菊		Kiku	Chrysanthemum
蒲公英		Tanpopo	Dandelion
撫子		Nadeshiko	Dianthus (pinks)
紫陽花		Ajisai	Hydrangea
菖蒲		Ayane	Iris
莉		Ri	Jasmine
百合		Yuri	Lily
橘	たちばな	Tachibana	Mandarin orange
夕顔		Yuugao	Moonflower
朝顔		Asagao	Morning glory
牽牛子		Kengoshi	Morning glory (alternate)
蘭		Ran	Orchid
牡丹		Botan	Peony
梅		Ume	Plum blossom
薔薇		Bara	Rose
向日葵		Hinata	Sunflower
薊		Azami	Thistle
藤		Fuji	Wisteria
Motifs - 植物 - Shokobutsu - Plants
笹		Sasa	Bamboo leaves
竹	たけ	Take	Bamboo stalks (oft. used interchangeably)
萩		Hagi	Bush clover
四つ葉		Yotsuba	Four-leaf clover
草		Kusa	Grasses
草花		Kusabana	Grasses and flowers
麻	あさ	Asanoha	Hemp leaf
葵		Aoi	Hollyhock
蔦		Tsuta	Ivy
蓮		Ren	Lotus
楓		Kaede	Maple
桐	きり	Kiri	Paulownia
松		Matsu	Pine
Motifs - 果物 - Kudamono - Fruits & 野菜 - Yasai - Vegetables
林檎		Ringo	Apple
バナナ		Banana	Banana
人参		Ninjin	Carrot
桜桃		Sakuranbou	Cherry
茄子		Nasu	Eggplant
いちじく		Ichigiku	Fig
箪		Hyotan	Gourd
ぶどう		Budou	Grape
レモン		Remon	Lemon
メロン		Meron	Melon
蜜柑		Mikan	Orange
桃		Momo	Peach
なし		Nashi	Pear
大根		Daikon	Radish
苺	いちご	Ichigo	Strawberry
トマト		Tomato	Tomato
西瓜		Suika	Watermelon
Motifs - 動物 - Dobutsu - Animals
蝙蝠		Koumori	Bat
熊		Kuma	Bear
鯉	こい	Koi	Carp
猫		Neko	Cat
牛		Ushi	Cow
蟹		Kani	Crab
鹿		Shika	Deer
犬	いぬ	Inu	Dog
魚		Sakana	Fish
狐		Kitsune	Fox
蛙		Kaeru	Frog
麒麟		Kirin	Giraffe
金魚	きんぎょ	Kingyo	Goldfish
針鼠		Harinezumi	Hedgehog
馬		Uma	Horse
海月	水母	Kurage	Jellyfish
ラマ		Rama	Llama
海老		Ebi	Lobster/Prawn
ライオン		Raion	Lion
鼠	ねずみ	Nezumi	Mouse, Rat
猿		Saru	Monkey
章魚		Tako	Octopus
豚		Buta	Pig
兎		Usagi	Rabbit
鮫	サメ	Same	Shark
羊		Hitsuji	Sheep
烏賊		Ika	Squid
虎		Tora	Tiger
亀		Kame	Turtle
鯨	クジラ	Kujira	Whale
狼		Ookami	Wolf
鳥獣戯画		Choju-jinbutsu-giga	Animal Caricatures
Motifs - 鳥 - Tori - Birds
鶯		Uguisu	Bush Warbler
鶏		Niwatori	Chicken
鶴		Tsuru	Crane
烏		Karasu	Crow
鳩		Haato	Dove, Pigeon
鷲		Washi	Eagle
鷹		Taka	Hawk
陽		Haya	Falcon
孔雀		Kujaku	Peacock
千鳥		Chidori	Plover
鴎		Kamome	Seagull
雀		Suzume	Sparrow
燕		Tsubame	Swallow
鵠		Kugui	Swan
Motifs - 虫 - Mushi - Insects
蜂		Bachi	Bee
蝶		Chou	Butterfly
蝉		Semi	Cicada
蟋蟀		Korogi	Cricket
蜻蛉		Tonbo	Dragonfly
飛蝗		Batta	Grasshopper
蛍		Hotaru	Firefly
蜘蛛		Kumo	Spider
蝸牛		Katatsumuri	Snail
水黽		Amenbo	Water skimmer
Motifs - Fantastic Creatures
天女		Tennyo	Celestial Maiden
鬼		Oni	Demon
龍		Ryu or Tatsu	Dragon
神		Kami	God
狐		Kitsune	Fox-woman spirit
獅子		Shishi	Guardian Lion
麒麟		Kirin	Mythical deerlike beast
鳳凰		Houou	Phoenix
Motifs – Objects and concepts
花鳥風月		Kachofugetsu	Beauties of Nature (lit. Flower, Bird, Wind, Moon)
招き猫		Maneki Neko	Beckoning Cat or Lucky Cat
鐘		Kane	Bell (large hanging)
鈴		Suzu	Bell (small round)
舟		Bune	Boat
書籍		Hoseki	Book
茶碗		Chawan	Bowl for tea ceremony
車		Kuruma	Car, cart, wheel
熨斗		Tabane noshi	Celebratory paper strips/ribbons
天象		Tenshou	Celestial phenomena, weather
唐子		Karako	Children playing
雲		Kumo	Cloud
クラブ		Kurabu	Club (card suit)
薬玉		Kusudama	Decorative flower or paper ball
ダイヤモンド		Diyamando	Diamond (card suit)
さいころ		Saikoro	Dice
人形		Ningyo	Doll
吹き寄せ文		Fukiyose-mon	Drifting fallen leaves/autumn debris
扇	おうぎ	Ougi or Sensu	Fan
羽根		Hane	Feather
羽衣		Hagoromo	Feather cloak of spirit
折鶴		Orizuru	Folded paper crane
屏風		Byobu	Folding screen
鼓		Tsuzumi	Hand drum
心		Kokoro	Heart (shape)
ハート		Haato	Heart (card suit)
京都		Kyoto	Kyoto city, also capital
太鼓		Taiko	Large drum
電		Inazuma	Lightning
霞		Kasumi	Mist
鏡	かがみ	Kagami	Mirror
月		Tsuki	Moon
山		San or Yama	Mountain
真珠		Shinju	Pearl
人物		Jinbutsu	Person, character, man
かるた		Karuta	Playing cards (Modern/Western)
花札		Hanafuda	Playing cards (Traditional/Japanese)
姫		Hime	Princess
文楽		Bunraku	Puppets
達磨		Daruma	Round-bottomed doll
海		Umi	Sea
貝殻		Kaigara	Shells
仕覆		Shifuku	Silk pouch for tea ceremony implements
雪		Yuki	Snow
スペード		Supedo	Spade (card suit)
星		Hoshi	Star
陽		Haru	Sun
卍		Manji	Swastika design
東海道五十三次		Tokaido Gojusan-tsugi	53 Stations of the Tokaido
神殿		Shinden	Temple
糸巻き		Itomaki	Thread bobbin
独楽		Koma	Top (toy)
こけし		Kokeshi	Traditional Japanese wooden doll
琴		Koto	Traditional lap harp
宝 ずくし		Takara Zukushi	Treasures (traditional seven treasures)
傘		Kasa	Umbrella
水		Mizu	Water
波		Nami	Wave
色 - Colours
黒		Kuro	Black
白		Shiro	White
灰色		Haiiro	Grey
茶色		Chaiiro	Brown
赤		Aka	Red
橙色		Daidaiiro	Orange
	オレンジ	Orenji	Orange (romanised, also for motif)
黄色		Kiiro	Yellow
緑		Midori	Green
青		Ao	Blue
紫		Murasaki	Purple
桃色		Momoiro	Pink
木版画 - Woodblock Print Terminology
木版画		Moku-Hanga	Woodblock Prints
浮世絵		Ukiyo-e	Pictures of "Floating World" (pleasure quarter)
美人画		Bijin-ga	Picture of beautiful women
錦絵		Nishiki-e	Coloured woodblock (lit. "brocade picture")
漆絵		Urushi-e	Lacquer picture
新版画		Shin-hanga	Modern print (lit. "new print")
春画		Shun-ga	Erotic picture
生け花 - Ikebana Terminology
生け花		Ikebana	Traditional Japanese flower arranging
華道		Kado	The "Way of Flowers"
池坊		Ikenobo	One of the famous schools of ikebana
嵯峨御流		Saga ko-ryu	One of the famous schools of ikebana
立花		Rikka	"Standing Flowers" arrangement
投入花		Nageire	"Thrown-in Flowers" arrangement
盛花		Moribana	"Piled-up Flowers" arrangement
生花		Shoka	"Pure Flowers" arrangement
自由花		Jyuka	"Free Flowers" arrangement
床の間		Tokonoma	Display alcove in traditional Japanese room
剣山		Kenzan	Floral pin base (often called a "frog" in English)
真, 副え, 控え		Shin, Soe, Hikae	"Heaven, Earth, Man" - three levels of arrangement