着替え
きがえ · kigae · JLPT N2 · noun
apparel
👕 着替え = 着る (to wear) + 替え (replace): swapping what you wear for something new
Kigae combines kiru (to wear) with kae (exchange or replacement). The k becomes g by rendaku, a sound change in compounds. Changing clothes means replacing what you wear.
着 — sheep 羊 (top) + eye 目 (bottom)
着 originated as a variant of 著, which depicted plants emerging visibly above ground (grass radical 艹 over 者). Over time 着 split off to carry meanings like 'attach,' 'wear,' or a verb suffix marking ongoing action (zhe), while 著 kept senses like 'manifest' or 'author.'
替 — two 夫 (man) over 曰 (say)
Originally written with two 立 (stand) over 白, depicting two people side by side, suggesting replacement or alternation. The form evolved to two 夫 over 曰. The core meaning shifted from 'decline/abolish' to 'replace, substitute for'.