髪の毛

• Reading: かみのけ
• Romaji: kaminoke
• Kanji breakdown: 髪 (kami) — head hair; 毛 (ke) — hair, fur
• Pronunciation: /ka.mi.no.ke/

Meaning

Hair (on the head). Refers specifically to the strands of hair growing from the scalp.

A compound expression combining 髪 (hair on the head) with の毛 (strand/fur), making it more specific than 髪 alone. While 髪 can refer to a hairstyle or hair in general, 髪の毛 emphasizes individual strands or hair as a physical substance. Common in contexts like shedding, finding stray hairs, or describing texture.

Examples

1. 排水口に髪の毛がたまっている。 There's hair clogging up the drain.
2. 最近、髪の毛がよく抜ける。 My hair has been falling out a lot lately.
3. スープの中に髪の毛が入っていた。 There was a strand of hair in my soup.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, hygiene, beauty

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

A compound of 髪 (kami — head hair) and 毛 (ke — hair, fur). The の particle connects them possessively, literally meaning 'hairs of the head,' distinguishing from body hair (体毛).

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal