Meaning & use
Japanese collar
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Meanings
nouncountable
A narrow, upright collar that stands at the back of the neck and forms a V at the front, often seen on kimono-style garments.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a Japanese collar' or 'Japanese collars' when talking about more than one.
Patterns
- wear a Japanese collar
- a Japanese collar shirt
- with a Japanese collar
She wore a simple black dress with a Japanese collar that framed her neck.
The designer added a Japanese collar to the jacket, giving it an elegant, Eastern feel.
nouncountable
A type of neckband on a garment that is cut close to the neck and stands up without a fold, inspired by traditional Japanese clothing.
Grammar: Also countable; often used in the plural to refer to the style in general, as in 'Japanese collars are back in fashion'.
Patterns
- a Japanese collar style
- feature a Japanese collar
- Japanese collar design
The collection featured several coats with Japanese collars and clean lines.
If you like minimalist fashion, a Japanese collar might appeal to you more than a standard pointed one.
Word forms
| plural | Japanese collars |
|---|
Common combinations
- a Japanese collar shirt
- He bought a white Japanese collar shirt for the interview.
- with a Japanese collar
- The blouse with a Japanese collar looked very sophisticated.
- Japanese collar style
- The Japanese collar style is popular in modern wedding dresses.
- wear a Japanese collar
- She likes to wear a Japanese collar because it draws attention to her face.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stand collar
- A more general term for any collar that stands up; 'Japanese collar' specifically suggests a style inspired by Japanese clothing.
- mandarin collar
- Similar but usually shorter and with a small gap at the front; a Japanese collar can be longer and more closely fitted.
Commonly confused: Japanese collar or mandarin collar?
Japanese collar vs mandarin collar
A mandarin collar is a short, stand-up collar often seen on Chinese-style garments; a Japanese collar is typically longer and may form a V at the front.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Japanese collar' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A Japanese collar is a type of collar on clothing, so it makes sense to wear it. The other options confuse it with a pet accessory, food, or a physical object that can be painted.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Japanese collar”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.