礼服(れいふく)

れいふく
noun
formal wear; ceremonial dress
clothing
1. formal wear; ceremonial dress
Clothing worn for formal ceremonies and occasions such as weddings, funerals, and official events. In everyday Japanese usage, it most often refers to the black formal suit worn at funerals and memorial services.
礼服(れいふく)を着(き)て出席(しゅっせき)した。
I attended wearing formal clothes.
礼服(れいふく)はクリーニングに出(だ)しておこう。
Let's send the formal suit to the dry cleaner.
社会人(しゃかいじん)になったら礼服(れいふく)を一着(いっちゃく)は持(も)っておくべきだ。
Once you're a working adult, you should have at least one set of formal wear.

In Japan, 礼服(れいふく) typically refers to black formal clothing (喪服(もふく) for funerals, or 略礼服(りゃくれいふく) for general formal occasions). It is standard advice for adults to own at least one set, as Japanese funerals and ceremonies require specific dress codes.

Common collocations

  • 礼服(れいふく)を着(き)る — to wear formal clothes
  • 礼服(れいふく)を用意(ようい)する — to prepare formal clothes
  • 男性用(だんせいよう)礼服(れいふく) — men's formal wear
  • 女性用(じょせいよう)礼服(れいふく) — women's formal wear

Related words

Related Words

Synonym: 正装(せいそう) (formal dress (state/act))
Related: 喪服(もふく) (mourning clothes)
Related: 略式(りゃくしき) (simplified/informal style)
Compare: 晴(は)れ着(ぎ) (formal clothes, festive attire)
Compare: 燕尾服(えんびふく) (tailcoat)
Compare: タキシード (tuxedo)
Compare: モーニング (morning service)
general
Added 2026.3.22 11:27 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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