金髪
kinpatsu[kʲĩmpa̠t͡sɨ]
In Japanese, the word for blonde is 金髪 (kinpatsu).
金髪 refers to having pale yellow or golden hair. While it describes the hair color itself, it is frequently used as a noun to refer to a person with blonde hair (a blonde).
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the kanji 金 (gold) and 髪 (hair), literally meaning "gold hair".
How does it change in a sentence?
To use 金髪 as an adjective to modify a noun, you must add the particle の after it, forming 金髪の. To state that someone "is blonde", use the dictionary form 金髪 plus the copula だ or です.
How do you pronounce it?
kinpatsu
Did you know?
- In Japanese pop culture, 金髪 is often associated with 'delinquents' or rebels, as dyeing one's hair this color was historically a sign of defiance against strict school dress codes.
- In many Japanese contexts, particularly in media or fashion, describing someone as 金髪 can carry a connotation of being 'Western' or 'foreign' rather than just a specific hair color.
- Because natural blonde hair is rare in Japan, the term 金髪 is frequently associated with characters in anime or manga who possess supernatural or exotic qualities.
Examples in context
- 金髪の女の子なんだ。She is a blonde girl.This example shows how to use the adjective form 金髪の to describe a girl.Tatoeba #10723602 by bunbuku, translation #313325 by CC
- 彼女は金髪で色白の少女だ。She is a blonde light-complexioned girl.This sentence uses 金髪 to describe a girl with light complexion.Tatoeba #90388 by bunbuku, translation #10723599 by JimBreen
- 私は君に、彼女は金髪だと伝えた。I told you that she was blonde.This sentence uses 金髪 to state a fact about a person's hair color.Tatoeba #13428290 by demiurgastel, translation #1020570 by CM
- 彼は金髪の外国人ですHe is a foreigner with blond hair.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are looking at a photo of a celebrity.
- 蓮 Renこの人は金髪ですね。Kono hito wa kinpatsu desu ne.This person has blonde hair, doesn't he?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、とても綺麗です。Hai, totemo kirei desu.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- 蓮 Ren美咲さんは金髪になりたいですか？Misaki-san wa kinpatsu ni naritai desu ka?Misaki, do you want to become blonde?
- 美咲 Misakiいいえ、今の色が気に入っています。Iie, ima no iro ga kiniitte imasu.No, I like my current color.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 金髪, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
