Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 髪 | kami | ||
| 髪の毛 | kami no ke | [ka̠mʲino̞ke̞] (narrow) | |
| 頭髪 | tōhatsu | [to̞ːha̠t͡sɨ] (narrow) | formal |
In Japanese, the term you choose depends on whether you are referring to the hair on a human head or more generally to body hair or animal fur. Use 髪 or 髪の毛 when discussing human hair, such as hairstyles or hair care. While the word 毛 (ke) can mean hair, it is more commonly used to refer to animal fur.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 髪の毛 (kami no ke) is a compound expression where 髪 (kami) means 'hair' and 毛 (ke) means 'hair, fur or filament', connected by the possessive particle の (no).
Which one should you use?
The forms differ in their specificity and scope. 髪 refers to the hair on one's head as a whole, whereas 毛 is a more general term for any hair, fur or bristles on any part of the body or an animal. 髪の毛 is the most common and neutral term for human hair.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
髪の毛 and 髪 are used in everyday speech, with 髪 being the most common way to refer to a person's hair when discussing hairstyles or hair care in casual daily conversation. 頭髪 (tōhatsu) is a formal, technical or written term used in official contexts like medical reports or legal documents, rather than in daily conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
kami
Did you know?
- In Japanese folklore, the word 髪 is linked to the belief that the soul resides in the hair, which is why cutting it was historically seen as a significant or spiritual act.
- In Japanese, the word 髪 (kami) shares the same pronunciation as 神, which means 'god' or 'spirit'.
- Japanese has a specific term 髪質 (kamishitsu) that describes the 'quality' or 'texture' of hair, a concept that often requires a full sentence to explain in English.
Examples in context
- 彼は金髪だ。He has blond hair.This sentence uses 髪 to describe a person's hair color.Tatoeba #108150 by bunbuku, translation #452278 by CM
- 髪乾かした？Did you dry your hair?This sentence uses 髪 in the context of hair care.Tatoeba #6144807 by mshins0925, translation #6377070 by pinkfreud
- 私は散髪した。I got my hair cut.This sentence uses 髪 to describe a haircut.Tatoeba #156651 by tommy_san, translation #257883 by CK
- Watashi no kaminoke wa nagai desu. (私の髪の毛は長いです。)My hair is long.
- Anata no kami wa kirei da yo. (あなたの髪はきれいだよ。)Your hair looks beautiful.
- 283 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are walking through a park.
- 健太 Kenta陽葵さんの髪はきれいですね。Himari-san no kami wa kirei desu ne.Himari, your hair is beautiful.
- 陽葵 Himari本当ですか？嬉しいです。Hontou desu ka? Ureshii desu.Really? I am happy to hear that.
- 健太 Kenta健太さんの髪も短くて素敵です。Kenta-san no kami mo mijikakute suteki desu.Kenta, your hair is also nice and short.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hair” translations and entries 髪, 髪の毛, 頭髪, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
