1.
tweezers
A small pincer tool for pulling out hairs or picking up tiny objects such as splinters. The everyday household item, sold with nail clippers in any drugstore.
毛 (hair) + 抜き, the noun form of 抜く (to pull out). Counted with 本 or 丁.
Common collocations
- 毛抜きで抜く: to pull out with tweezers
- 眉毛を整える: to shape one's eyebrows (the commonest reason to reach for them)
- とげを抜く: to remove a splinter
Similar words
- ピンセット: tweezers/forceps — from Dutch, used for laboratory, medical, and craft work rather than grooming
The two are physically similar; the choice of word follows the purpose, so a beautician uses 毛抜き and a technician assembling a circuit board uses ピンセット.