1.
nape hairline; hair at the back of the neck
The hairline at the back of the neck, or the hair growing in that area. Important in hairstyling and traditionally considered an attractive feature in Japanese aesthetics.
襟足をすっきり刈り上げた。
I had my nape neatly trimmed.
襟足が長くなってきたので、そろそろ髪を切りたい。
The hair at my nape has gotten long, so I want to get a haircut soon.
着物を着たとき、襟足が見える髪型にすると美しく見える。
When wearing a kimono, a hairstyle that shows the nape hairline looks beautiful.
USAGE:
Commonly used at hair salons when requesting a haircut. In traditional Japanese aesthetics, a woman's 襟足 visible when wearing kimono is considered elegant and attractive. The word combines 襟 (collar/neckline) and 足 (foot/base).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 襟足を整える (to tidy the nape hairline)
- 襟足を刈り上げる (to trim the nape)
- 襟足が伸びる (nape hair grows out)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- {うなじ}: nape of the neck — refers to the skin area itself, not the hair
- 生え際: hairline — the general term for where hair meets skin