胡子

• Pinyin: hú zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 胡 = foreign/beard; 子 = noun suffix

Meaning

Beard; mustache; facial hair. Hair growing on the face.

General term for all facial hair including beard, mustache, and stubble. Can be specified: 大胡子 (full beard), 小胡子 (mustache). Also used figuratively in some idioms.

Examples

1. 他留了一脸大胡子，看起来很成熟。 He grew a full beard and looks very mature.
2. 每天早上他都要刮胡子。 He shaves his beard every morning.
3. 爷爷的白胡子让他看起来像圣诞老人。 Grandpa's white beard makes him look like Santa Claus.

Usage Guide

Context: appearance, grooming, description, daily

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 你该刮胡子了。(You should shave your beard.)
• 他的胡子很浓密。(His beard is very thick.)

Don't Say

• 她有胡子 casually (while factually possible, commenting on women's facial hair is usually avoided)

Origin & History

Compound of 胡 (originally meaning foreign peoples who often had beards) + 子 (noun suffix).

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal