1.
to dress someone, to put clothes on someone
To put clothing on another person. The transitive counterpart of 着る (to wear). The person being dressed takes the に particle, and the clothing takes the を particle.
子どもに服を着せる。
To dress the child.
赤ちゃんに暖かいコートを着せた。
I put a warm coat on the baby.
人形にかわいい衣装を着せて飾った。
I dressed the doll in a cute outfit and displayed it.
2.
to place blame on, to lay (responsibility) on
Figuratively, to impose blame, responsibility, or a false charge on someone. Often used in the phrase 罪を着せる.
罪を着せる。
To pin the blame on someone.
無実の人に罪を着せてはいけない。
You must not pin a crime on an innocent person.
自分の失敗を部下に着せるような上司は信頼されない。
A boss who blames subordinates for their own failures won't be trusted.
USAGE:
The transitive counterpart of 着る (to wear). In sense 1, the pattern is [person]に[clothing]を着せる. In sense 2, the pattern is [person]に[blame/crime]を着せる. The phrase 濡れ衣を着せる (to frame someone; literally "to put wet clothes on someone") is a well-known idiom.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 子どもに服を着せる: to dress a child
- 罪を着せる: to pin blame on someone
- 濡れ衣を着せる: to frame someone (idiom)