髪を切る
The Japanese phrase for 'cut hair' is 髪を切る.
The phrase 髪を切る is used to mean both the act of cutting hair oneself and the act of having one's hair cut by a professional.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 髪 (kami) meaning 'hair' and 切る (kiru) meaning 'to cut'.
Did you know?
- There is a traditional belief that hair contains a person's spirit, which is why some avoid cutting hair on specific 'unlucky' days of the lunar calendar.
- In Japanese, the word for 'hair' (kami) is a homophone for the word for 'God' (kami), though they use different kanji.
- Historically, the way men cut their hair indicated their social rank, such as the chonmage topknot worn by samurai.
Examples in context
- 明日、髪を切るつもりです。Ashita, kami o kiru tsumori desu.I intend to cut my hair tomorrow.
- 美容院で髪を切る。Biyouin de kami o kiru.I will cut my hair at the hair salon.
- 少し髪を切るだけでいいです。Sukoshi kami o kiru dake de ii desu.It is fine to just cut a little bit of my hair.
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are talking about their appearances.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太くん、髪を切る予定はありますか？Yota-kun, kami o kiru yotei wa arimasu ka?Yota, do you have plans to cut your hair?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、来週予約しています。Hai, raishū yoyaku shite imasu.Yes, I have a reservation for next week.
- 美咲 Misakiいいですね。私も髪を切るタイミングです。Ii desu ne. Watashi mo kami o kiru taimingu desu.That's good. It's also time for me to cut my hair.
- 陽太 Yota短くするつもりですか？Mijikaku suru tsumori desu ka?Are you planning to make it short?
