Translation guide
Describes hair that is white in color, often due to aging, albinism, or dye. Japanese distinguishes between natural white/gray hair from aging and purely white hair from other causes.
Natural hair that has turned white or gray with age.
Hair that is completely white, such as from albinism, anime characters, or dye.
Emphasizes pure, snow-white hair. Common for describing striking white hair in fiction or fashion.
そのキャラクターは真っ白な髪をしている。
That character has pure white hair.
Referring to the white hair of animals.
Used for animal fur or hair. 毛 (け) specifically means animal hair/fur.
その猫は白い毛をしている。
That cat has white fur.
白髪 (しらが) specifically means hair that has turned white or gray due to aging. 白い髪 (しろいかみ) simply means white-colored hair and can refer to dyed hair, albino hair, or fictional characters. Using 白髪 for a young person with naturally white hair may cause confusion.
The standard word for white or gray hair that comes with age. Can refer to a single strand or the overall condition.
最近、白髪が増えてきた。
I've been getting more white hairs lately.
彼は白髪交じりの髪をしている。
He has hair streaked with gray.
Literally 'white hair', but less common for age-related graying. More often used for hair that is naturally or artificially pure white.
祖母は白い髪を短く切っている。
My grandmother keeps her white hair cut short.
Can sometimes be used for non-aging white hair, but usually implies aging. Context dependent.
May be misinterpreted as premature graying. Use 真っ白な髪 for clarity when aging is not the cause.
彼女は若いのに白髪だ。
She has white hair even though she's young.
Neutral 'white hair', but can sound plain. Often used in descriptive contexts.
白い髪の女の子が立っていた。
A girl with white hair was standing there.