A Tokyo shopping story: A few years ago, I wandered into a Uniqlo in Shibuya and grabbed a medium sweater off the rack — same size I wear at home in Germany. Back at the hotel, I couldn't get it over my shoulders. It was a Japanese medium, which is closer to a European XS/S. I had to go back and exchange it for an XL, and even then the sleeves were short. That's when I learned: Asian sizing is a completely different language. And it's not just Japan — China and Korea have their own quirks too.
If you've ever browsed YesStyle, ordered from a Korean brand on Instagram, or tried to buy a souvenir tee in Tokyo, you've faced the mystery of JP, CN, and KR sizes. They look familiar — S, M, L, or numbers like 90, 95, 100 — but the fit is often one to two sizes smaller than Western equivalents. This guide deciphers each system and shows you exactly how to convert them using a free, reliable online tool.
Japanese, Chinese, Korean — plus US, UK, EU, and AU. Enter any size and see the correct equivalent in seconds.
JP (Japan) — numeric and letter sizing, men's & women's.
CN (China) — 160/84A, 165/88A and more decoded.
KR (Korea) — 44, 55, 66, 77 and free size explained.
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Japanese clothing sizes are consistently smaller than Western standards. A Japanese women's M is roughly a US XS/S, and a men's L is closer to a US M. For women, you'll often see sizes like 7, 9, 11 (corresponding to US 2, 4, 6) or simple S/M/L labels. Men's shirts use neck circumference in centimeters (37, 38, 39, 40) similar to EU but one size smaller. The key rule: always size up at least one, often two sizes when ordering from Japanese brands.
| JP (letter) | JP (numeric) | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 7 / 9 | 2–4 | 6–8 | 34–36 |
| M | 9 / 11 | 4–6 | 8–10 | 36–38 |
| L | 11 / 13 | 8–10 | 12–14 | 40–42 |
| XL / LL | 13 / 15 | 10–12 | 14–16 | 42–44 |
Chinese clothing labels often show something like "165/88A". The first number (165) is the recommended height in cm. The second (88) is the chest circumference in cm. The letter indicates fit: A = standard, B = larger bust/waist, Y = slim. So a "165/88A" is designed for a person around 165 cm tall with an 88 cm bust — roughly a US size 6–8 or EU 38. This system is logical once you know your measurements, but it's easy to misread.
| CN size label | Height (cm) | Bust (cm) | US | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160/84A | 160–165 | 84 | 4–6 | 36 |
| 165/88A | 165–170 | 88 | 6–8 | 38 |
| 170/92A | 170–175 | 92 | 8–10 | 40 |
| 175/96A | 175–180 | 96 | 10–12 | 42 |
Men's Chinese sizes follow a similar pattern (e.g., 170/92A). Again, Chinese cuts tend to be slimmer and shorter than Western ones — if you're between sizes, size up.
Korean sizing is unique. Women's clothing often uses numbers like 44, 55, 66 — these correspond roughly to US 2–4, 6–8, and 10–12 respectively. A Korean 55 is the most common "medium" and fits like a US small. You'll also see "free size" (프리사이즈) — this is a one-size-fits-most that typically fits a US 2–6. Men's sizes in Korea use standard S/M/L but run smaller; a Korean L is a US M.
| KR (number) | KR (letter) | US | UK | EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | XS | 0–2 | 4–6 | 32–34 |
| 55 | S | 4–6 | 8–10 | 36–38 |
| 66 | M | 6–8 | 10–12 | 38–40 |
| 77 | L | 10–12 | 14–16 | 42–44 |
| 88 | XL | 12–14 | 16–18 | 44–46 |
1️⃣ Open Global Size Converter
2️⃣ Choose "Women's" or "Men's" and select "Asia" category
3️⃣ Enter the size you know (e.g., JP L, CN 165/88A, KR 66)
4️⃣ Get US, UK, EU, AU, and more — instantly.
Also works for shoes and kids' sizes.
Because Asian sizes rely heavily on height and bust/chest measurements, knowing your numbers is crucial. Use a soft tape measure:
With these three numbers, you can decode Chinese labels like "170/92A" or choose the right Japanese size. Or, skip the math entirely and let Global Size Converter do the work.
Bookmark Global Size Converter — the only tool you'll need for JP, CN, KR, and 30+ other size systems.
Explore the full Asian size converter at global-size-converter.vercel.app — clean, fast, and accurate.
— size up, shop smart.