Hige
Today, I will talk about the Japanese word “hige.”
ひげ
Hige means human’s (especially man’s) hair that grows above his upper lip (mustache), jaw (beard), or cheek (sideburn).
今日は「ひげ」という日本語を紹介します。
“髭” is often used as the kanji of “hige,” but strictly speaking, “髭” means “mustache,” “鬚” means “beard,” and “髯” means “sideburn.”
「ひげ」は、人間（特に男性）の口の上、あご、ほおなどに生える毛を意味します。
There are also three different words in English as well as the kanji.
漢字は「髭」が使われることが多いですが、くちひげは「髭」、あごひげは「鬚」、ほおひげは「髯」のように使い分けられます。
The word “hige,” which can show three different hair, seems to be unique to Japan.
英語も同じように、それぞれ異なる英単語が存在します。
By the way, it was considered that mustache bushi (Japanese samurai) in medieval Japan should grow their mustache, and bushi who have less mustache wore a false mustache.
一つの「ひげ」という言葉でくちひげ、あごひげ、ほおひげを表す言葉は日本語特有のもののようです。
