褌(ふんどし)

ふんどし
noun
loincloth; fundoshi
1. loincloth; traditional Japanese men's undergarment
A traditional Japanese undergarment for men, consisting of a long strip of cloth wound around the waist and between the legs. Still worn in sumo, festivals, and some martial arts.
相撲(すもう)取(と)りは褌(ふんどし)を締(し)める。
Sumo wrestlers wear a loincloth.
祭(まつ)りで褌(ふんどし)姿(すがた)の男性(だんせい)が神輿(みこし)を担(かつ)ぐ。
At the festival, men wearing loincloths carry the portable shrine.
褌(ふんどし)を締(し)めてかかるという表現(ひょうげん)がある。
There's an expression 'tighten one's loincloth' (to brace oneself for action).

褌(ふんどし) is the traditional Japanese men's undergarment.

TYPES:

  • 六尺(ろくしゃく)褌(ふんどし): long loincloth (about 2 meters)
  • 越中(えっちゅう)褌(ふんどし): shorter T-back style (most common today)
  • 回(まわ)し: sumo loincloth (thick, formal version)

IDIOMS:

  • 褌(ふんどし)を締(し)めてかかる: to brace oneself for action; to prepare seriously
  • 他人(たにん)の褌(ふんどし)で相撲(すもう)を取(と)る: to do something using others' resources

MODERN USAGE:

  • Still worn in 相撲(すもう) (sumo), 祭(まつ)り (festivals)
  • Sometimes worn as underwear for comfort
  • Seen at 裸祭(はだかまつ)り (naked festivals)
general
Added 2026.1.29 20:08
08500/08979_fundoshi