How to Say ‘It's a junihitoe.’ in Japanese
十二単ですよ。
juu ni tan desu yo
[JOO nee hee-toh-EH dess yo]
💬 Usage Tip: 十二単 is read (jūnihitoe), and the last part 単 (hitoe) is a special reading you just have to memorize. Adding よ at the end makes it sound like you're telling them something they didn't know.
🇯🇵 In Japan: The junihitoe is the many-layered robe of Heian court ladies. At Aoi Matsuri it is worn by the Saiō-dai, the woman who leads the women's part of the procession.
Phrase Breakdown
十
juu
[JOO]
ten
The number 10; used for counting items or minutes in the kitchen.
玉ねぎを十個切ってください。
Please cut ten onions.
二
ni
[nee]
two
The number two.
二お願いします。
Two, please.
単
tan
[hee-toh-EH]
single layer (part of juunihitoe)
Read 'hitoe'; an unlined robe. In 十二単 it names the twelve-layered court robe of Heian noblewomen.
十二単はとても美しいです。
The twelve-layered robe is very beautiful.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
よ
yo
[yo]
you know
Particle used for emphasis or to assert information.
わかるよね。
You know, right?
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