Readings: モウ (Onyomi), け (Kunyomi)
Meaning: hair, fur, wool
This kanji is a pictograph representing hair or feathers, depicting strands flowing downwards.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 毛 (ke/Mou) is written with 4 strokes. The first stroke is a horizontal line across the top. The second stroke is a vertical stroke starting from the middle of the first, followed by two short diagonal strokes on the left and right, branching from the vertical stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 毛 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 4 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- モウ (Mou)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- け (ke)
Common Words Using 毛
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 毛布 | もうふ | blanket |
| 毛皮 | けがわ | fur, pelt |
| 毛糸 | けいと | yarn, wool |
| 不毛 | ふもう | barren, infertile |
| 脱毛 | だつもう | hair removal |
| 縮毛 | しゅくもう | curly hair |
| 毛髪 | もうはつ | hair (on the head) |
| 羊毛 | ようもう | wool |
| 羽毛 | うもう | plumage, down feathers |
| 増毛 | ぞうもう | hair growth, hair increase |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 毛 | け | hair, fur, wool |
| 毛深い | けぶかい | hairy, bushy |
| 毛並み | けなみ | fur, coat (of an animal) |
| 毛虫 | けむし | caterpillar |
| 毛穴 | けあな | pore (of skin) |
| 鼻毛 | はなげ | nose hair |
| すね毛 | すねげ | leg hair |
| 逆毛 | さかげ | hair standing on end, backcombed hair |
| 猫毛 | ねこげ | fine, soft hair (like a cat’s) |
| 縮れ毛 | ちぢれげ | kinky/curly hair |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 冬は暖かい毛布が必要です。
Kana: ふゆはあたたかいもうふがひつようです。
Romaji: Fuyu wa atatakai moufu ga hitsuyō desu.
English: You need a warm blanket in winter.
Japanese: 犬の毛がソファにたくさん落ちています。
Kana: いぬのけがソファにたくさんおちています。
Romaji: Inu no ke ga sofa ni takusan ochite imasu.
English: A lot of dog hair is falling on the sofa.
Japanese: 彼女は美しい毛皮のコートを着ていた。
Kana: かのじょはうつくしいけがわのコートをきていた。
Romaji: Kanojo wa utsukushii kegawa no kōto o kite ita.
English: She was wearing a beautiful fur coat.
Japanese: このセーターは羊毛でできています。
Kana: このセーターはようもうでできています。
Romaji: Kono sētā wa yōmō de dekite imasu.
English: This sweater is made of wool.
Japanese: 毛糸で手袋を編みました。
Kana: けいとでてぶくろをあみました。
Romaji: Keito de tebukuro o amimashita.
English: I knitted gloves with yarn.
Japanese: この地は不毛で、作物が育たない。
Kana: このちはふもうで、さくもつがそだたない。
Romaji: Kono chi wa fumō de, sakumotsu ga sodatanai.
English: This land is barren, and crops do not grow.
Japanese: 夏に向けて脱毛サロンに通っています。
Kana: なつにむけてだつもうサロンにかよっています。
Romaji: Natsu ni mukete datsumō saron ni kayotte imasu.
English: I go to a hair removal salon for the summer.
Japanese: 彼の髪は生まれつきの縮毛です。
Kana: かれのかみはうまれつきのしゅくもうです。
Romaji: Kare no kami wa umaretsuki no shukumō desu.
English: His hair is naturally curly.
Japanese: 毛穴の汚れをしっかり落としましょう。
Kana: けあなのよごれをしっかりおとしましょう。
Romaji: Keana no yogore o shikkari otoshimashō.
English: Let’s thoroughly remove dirt from pores.
Japanese: 猫毛なので、静電気が起きやすいです。
Kana: ねこげなので、せいでんきがおきやすいです。
Romaji: Nekoge nanode, seidenki ga okiyasui desu.
English: Because I have fine, soft hair (like a cat’s), static electricity easily occurs.
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