ルームウェア
るーむうぇあ
noun
loungewear; room wear
1.
loungewear; clothes for relaxing at home
Comfortable clothing designed for wearing around the house. A wasei-eigo term (room + wear) widely used in Japanese fashion and retail. Positioned between everyday clothes and pajamas — presentable enough for answering the door but comfortable for relaxing.
ルームウェアに着替えた。
I changed into my loungewear.
家に帰ったらすぐルームウェアに着替える。
As soon as I get home, I change into loungewear.
このルームウェアはもこもこで暖かくて、冬に重宝している。
This loungewear is fluffy and warm — I find it really handy in winter.
A wasei-eigo compound (English "room" + "wear") that has no direct equivalent in English fashion terminology, though "loungewear" is the closest match. In English-speaking countries, the concept overlaps with "lounge clothes" or "athleisure."
The distinction matters in Japanese retail: ルームウェア is a well-established product category in clothing stores and online shops, separate from パジャマ (pajamas/sleepwear) and 部屋着 (house clothes).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ルームウェアに着替える: to change into loungewear
- もこもこルームウェア: fluffy loungewear
- ルームウェア売り場: loungewear section (in a store)
- おしゃれなルームウェア: stylish loungewear
SIMILAR WORDS:
- パジャマ: pajamas — specifically for sleeping
- 部屋着: house clothes — more casual, can include old or worn clothes
- ナイトウェア: nightwear — sleepwear, closer to pajamas
- 寝巻き: nightclothes — traditional Japanese term