ひげ

ひげ
noun
beard; mustache; whiskers
1. beard; mustache
Facial hair on a person.
ひげを剃(そ)る。
To shave one's beard.
彼(かれ)はひげを生(は)やしている。
He has a beard.
ひげを生やす = to grow a beard
ひげが濃(こ)い。
He has thick facial hair.
毎朝(まいあさ)ひげを剃(そ)っている。
I shave every morning.
口(くち)ひげを生(は)やしている人(ひと)がいる。
There's a person with a mustache.
ひげを伸(の)ばすつもりだ。
I plan to grow my beard.
2. whiskers
The facial hair of animals, especially cats.
猫(ねこ)のひげは長(なが)い。
Cat whiskers are long.
犬(いぬ)のひげを触(さわ)った。
I touched the dog's whiskers.
猫(ねこ)はひげで距離(きょり)を測(はか)る。
Cats measure distance with their whiskers.
このキャラクターはひげが特徴(とくちょう)だ。
This character's distinguishing feature is its whiskers.
猫(ねこ)のひげは大切(たいせつ)なので、絶対(ぜったい)に切(き)ってはいけない。
A cat's whiskers are important, so you must never cut them.

ひげ is a general term for facial hair — it covers beards, mustaches, and whiskers without distinguishing between them. More specific kanji exist for each type.

SPECIFIC TYPES (by kanji):

  • 髭(ひげ): mustache (above the lip)
  • 鬚(ひげ): beard (chin and jaw)
  • 髯(ひげ): sideburns, cheek whiskers

In practice, hiragana ひげ is most common and covers all types.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ひげを剃(そ)る: to shave
  • ひげを生(は)やす: to grow a beard/mustache
  • ひげを伸(の)ばす: to let one's beard grow
  • ひげが濃(こ)い: to have thick facial hair
  • ひげが薄(うす)い: to have thin facial hair

ANIMALS:
For cats and other animals, ひげ means 'whiskers.' 猫(ねこ)のひげ (cat's whiskers) is a common usage.

basic
Added 2026.1.8 12:55 · Revised 2026.3.26 21:02
01000/01332_hige