毛

• Reading: け
• Romaji: ke
• Kanji breakdown: 毛 (mou/ke) — hair, fur, wool
• Pronunciation: /ke/

Meaning

Hair; fur; wool. Fine strands growing from the skin of humans or animals.

A general term for body hair, animal fur, or wool — distinct from 髪 (kami), which specifically means head hair. Common compounds include 毛布 (moufu, blanket), 毛糸 (keito, yarn/wool), and 眉毛 (mayuge, eyebrows). Can also be used for very fine fibers.

Examples

1. この猫は毛がとても長い。 This cat has very long fur.
2. 毛糸でセーターを編んでいます。 I'm knitting a sweater with yarn.
3. うちの犬は毛が抜ける季節です。 It's shedding season for our dog.

Usage Guide

Context: animals, textiles, body

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 毛 is a pictograph depicting strands of hair or fur growing from the skin, one of the simplest and oldest kanji.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal