Japanese word

毛

Pronunciation

Romajike

Meaning

  • nounhair

Example

犬の毛が床に落ちています。inu no ke ga yuka ni o chi te i ma su

There is dog hair on the floor.

Illustration for 毛 (hair)

More examples

服についた毛は、粘着テープで取れます。fuku ni tsu i ta ke wa nen chaku tē pu de to re ma su

The hair on your clothes can be removed with adhesive tape.

Core concept

Describes the fine strands that grow from a person's or an animal's skin.

Common phrases

  • 毛が抜けるke ga nu ke ru

    shed hair

  • 毛を取るke o to ru

    remove hair

  • 毛をとかすke o to ka su

    brush hair

Similar words

髪kami: Hair that grows on a person's head.

Definition in Japanese

人や動物の皮膚に生える細い糸状のもの。hito ya dō butsu no hi fu ni ha e ru hoso i ito jō no mo no

Word origin

The native Japanese word 毛 (ke, "hair" or "fur") is recorded in Old Japanese and is not a compound.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 毛 (ke, "hair or fur") can refer to both human hair and animal fur, while 髪 (kami, "head hair") specifically refers to hair on the head.

Other meanings

  • furnoun

Related words

  • 毛深さkebukasahairinessnoun

Word lists with this word