Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 床屋 | tokoya | [to̞ko̞ja̠] (narrow) |
| 理髪師 | rihatsushi | [ɾʲiha̠t͡sɨɕi] (narrow) |
床屋 is the most common and widely recognized term for a barber. It is used to refer to both the person (the barber) and the establishment (the barber shop).
What does it mean word for word?
The word 床屋 literally translates to 'floor shop', which refers to the historical practice of customers sitting on the floor to receive a haircut.
Which one should you use?
While 床屋 is the everyday term, 理髪師 is the formal professional title for a barber. If you are looking for a hair stylist or beautician who works in a salon and serves both men and women, the term 美容師 is more appropriate.
How do you pronounce it?
tokoya
When do people say it?
In Japan, a distinction is often made between a 床屋 (barber), which traditionally focuses on men's hair and shaving and a 美容師 (hairdresser/beautician), who typically works in a hair salon (美容院).
Did you know?
- Until the early 20th century, a 床屋 often performed duties like tooth extraction or bloodletting, similar to the historical 'barber-surgeons' in Europe.
- A 理髪師 is legally licensed differently than a 美容師, and for a long time, only the former was legally allowed to perform shaving services.
- The word 理 in 理髪師 relates to 'logic' or 'reason' in other contexts, but here it specifically refers to 'arranging' or 'managing' hair.
Examples in context
- １ヶ月に１回床屋に行くよ。I usually go to the barber once a month.This sentence is useful for expressing how often you visit the 床屋.Tatoeba #162070 by small_snow, translation #252445 by CK
- 月に一度、床屋に行きます。I go to the barber once a month.Tatoeba #11178869 by small_snow, translation #463862 by CM
- 昨日床屋で髪を切ってもらったんだ。I had my hair cut at the barber shop yesterday.This sentence is useful for mentioning that you had your hair cut at the 床屋.Tatoeba #169869 by small_snow, translation #244617 by CK
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking about his grooming routine.
- 蓮 Renいつもの床屋に行く予定だよ。Itsumo no tokoya ni iku yotei da yo.I'm planning to go to my usual barber.
- 美咲 Misaki床屋さんは、いつも丁寧にしてくれるの？Tokoya-san wa, itsumo teinei ni shite kureru no?Does the barber always do a careful job?
- 蓮 Renうん、とても上手な床屋だよ。Un, totemo jouzu na tokoya da yo.Yeah, it's a very skilled barber.
- 美咲 Misakiそれはよかったね。Sore wa yokatta ne.That's good to hear.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “barber” translations and entries 床屋, 理髪師, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
