1.
sewing; needlework; sewing work
The activity of sewing by hand, or the items being sewn. Refers to practical sewing rather than decorative embroidery.
母は縫い物が得意だ。
My mother is good at sewing.
夜になると縫い物をして過ごす。
I spend my evenings doing needlework.
祖母は目が悪くなって、縫い物ができなくなったと嘆いている。
My grandmother laments that her eyesight has gotten worse and she can no longer do sewing.
A compound of 縫う (to sew) and 物 (thing). Refers both to the activity of hand sewing and to the items being sewn. Has a warm, domestic connotation.
USAGE:
Typically refers to hand sewing done at home, including mending clothes, making simple garments, or hemming. More everyday and informal than 裁縫.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 縫い物をする — to do sewing
- 縫い物が得意 — to be good at sewing
- 縫い物道具 — sewing supplies
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 裁縫 — sewing, needlework (more formal, broader scope)
- 手芸 — handicrafts (broader, includes knitting, crochet, etc.)
- 刺繍 — embroidery (decorative stitching)