Proverb / Kotowaza
伊達の薄着
Dressing in light clothes during cold weather to maintain a stylish appearance, sacrificing comfort or health for vanity.
dressing lightly for the sake of style
Quick Answer
Dressing in light clothes during cold weather to maintain a stylish appearance, sacrificing comfort or health for vanity.
- Literal Image
- dressing lightly for the sake of style
- Closest Equivalent
- Vanity is the food of fools
- How to Use It
- Used when describing or teasing someone who is wearing clothes that are clearly too thin for the weather because they want to look fashionable.
Meaning
To wear thin or light clothing in the cold specifically to prioritize fashion over practicality. It describes a behavior where someone's desire to look good leads them to ignore physical needs, such as staying warm or protecting their health.
Literal Image
dressing lightly for the sake of style
Equivalent Proverbs
Vanity is the food of fools
Both criticize vanity, though the English one is broader.
Beauty is pain
Both describe suffering for the sake of appearance.
How to Use It
Used when describing or teasing someone who is wearing clothes that are clearly too thin for the weather because they want to look fashionable.
Tone
Can be used as a mild warning or a humorous observation about someone's vanity.
Examples
真冬でも薄着でいる彼女に友人が声をかけた。「伊達の薄着もほどほどにしないと風邪をひくよ」と。
A friend spoke to her as she wore thin clothes even in the middle of winter: 'Don't overdo the "dressing for style" or you'll catch a cold.'
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Uses the specific term 'date' for vanity and a noun 'usugi', but the combination is an idiomatic set phrase.
伊達
だて / date
stylishness, vanity, showiness
薄着
うすぎ / usugi
light clothing, dressing lightly
Usage Profile
Usage note: While lighthearted, ensure the context allows for teasing someone about their fashion choices.
Misread Risk
The proverb is specifically about clothing and the cold; do not use it to describe general vanity that does not involve dressing lightly.
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Origin
The word 'Date' refers to vanity or being stylish, also seen in the term 'datemono'. The expression is said to have originated from the fashion-forward values that became popular during the Edo period.
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Topics, Situations, and Tags
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.