纏(まと)う

まとう
verb (godan)
to wear, to be clad in
1. to wear, to be clad in, to put on
To wrap oneself in or wear clothing, a robe, or an atmosphere. More literary and elegant than 着(き)る.
白(しろ)い衣(ころも)を纏(まと)う。
To be clad in white robes.
山(やま)が霧(きり)を纏(まと)っている。
The mountain is shrouded in mist.
彼女(かのじょ)は神秘的(しんぴてき)な雰囲気(ふんいき)を纏(まと)っていて、周(まわ)りの人(ひと)の目(め)を引(ひ)いた。
She had a mysterious air about her that drew the attention of those around her.

CONJUGATION (godan-u):

  • Negative: 纏(まと)わない
  • Te-form: 纏(まと)って
  • Past: 纏(まと)った
  • Potential: 纏(まと)える

TRANSITIVITY:
Transitive. Takes を for the garment or quality being worn.

ORTHOGRAPHY:
Often written in hiragana as まとう due to the complexity of the kanji 纏(まと).

USAGE:
A literary, elegant word for wearing or being draped in something. Unlike 着(き)る (the everyday word for wearing), 纏(まと)う evokes a sense of being enveloped or wrapped. It is frequently used figuratively for intangible qualities like an atmosphere, aura, or mystery.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 衣(ころも)を纏(まと)う: to be clad in robes
  • 雰囲気(ふんいき)を纏(まと)う: to carry an atmosphere
  • 霧(きり)を纏(まと)う: to be shrouded in mist
  • 鎧(よろい)を纏(まと)う: to wear armor

Related Words

Related: 纏(まつ)わる (to cling to)
general
Added 2026.2.8 13:55 · Revised 2026.2.19 21:42
10500/10573_matou