ひげ

Japanese

Noun

ひげ • (hige) 

1. 髭, 鬚, 髯: mustache, beard, whiskers, sideburns
2. 卑下: humility

Usage notes

In sense of “facial hair”, literally and idiomatically translates as “whiskers”, referring both to human (primarily male) mustache, beard, and also sideburns; and also to animal (such as cat) whiskers. Different senses are specified by specifying location, and using different kanji – mustache is “mouth whiskers”, beard is “chin whiskers”, and sideburns are “cheek whiskers”.

Derived terms

• 無精(ぶしょう)ひげ (bushōhige)

References

• The Oxford Starter Japanese Dictionary. →ISBN