綿(わたい)

わたいれ
noun
padded garment; quilted coat
1. padded garment; quilted coat; cotton-padded kimono
A garment lined with cotton wadding for warmth, traditionally referring to a padded kimono worn in winter. Can also refer to any padded or quilted outerwear.
(ふゆ)になると綿入(わたい)れを()る。
I wear a padded coat when winter comes.
祖母(そぼ)手作(てづく)りの綿入(わたい)れをくれた。
My grandmother gave me a handmade padded garment.
(むかし)(ひと)綿入(わたい)れの半纏(はんてん)()(さむ)さをしのいだ。
In the old days, people wore padded hanten jackets to endure the cold.

綿(わた) means 'cotton' or 'cotton wadding,' and ()れ means 'putting in' or 'insertion.' 綿入(わたい)れ refers to any garment that has cotton batting layered inside for insulation. Historically, this was the primary form of winter clothing in Japan before modern insulated fabrics.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 綿入(わたい)れの半纏(はんてん) (padded hanten jacket)
  • 綿入(わたい)れの着物(きもの) (padded kimono)
  • 綿入(わたい)れを()る (to wear a padded garment)

CULTURAL NOTE:
Before modern heating and synthetic insulation, 綿入(わたい)れ garments were essential for surviving Japanese winters. The 半纏(はんてん) (a short padded jacket) is still worn at home in winter by some people. The word evokes a sense of traditional, cozy winter life.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 半纏(はんてん) — hanten (a specific type of short padded jacket)
  • 丹前(たんぜん) — padded dressing gown (thicker, worn over other clothes at home or at hot spring inns)
  • ダウンジャケット — down jacket (modern equivalent using down feathers for insulation)