Translation guide
Describes soft, fine, and often light-colored hair, typically on the body, face of infants, or as a texture descriptor.
To refer to the soft, fine hair that grows on the human body, as opposed to coarse terminal hair.
The most common and direct term for the fine, soft hair on the body, especially of babies or on the face and arms. It can also refer to the first hair of a newborn.
赤ちゃんの頬には産毛が生えている。
The baby has downy hair on its cheeks.
彼女の腕の産毛が光に透けて見えた。
The downy hair on her arms was visible in the light.
Alternative spelling of 産毛, often used in beauty or cosmetic contexts.
顔のうぶ毛を剃ると化粧のりが良くなる。
Shaving the downy hair on your face makes makeup go on better.
A descriptive phrase meaning 'soft hair', used when the specific term 産毛 might not be known or in casual conversation.
この猫は柔らかい毛で覆われている。
This cat is covered in soft, downy hair.
Specifically the very fine, light-colored hair on the face, often referred to as 'peach fuzz' in English.
Also used for facial peach fuzz. Context makes it clear.
彼はまだ髭が濃くなくて、産毛だけだ。
He doesn't have a thick beard yet, just downy hair.
Explicitly 'facial downy hair', common in beauty contexts.
顔の産毛を処理する女性が多い。
Many women remove their facial downy hair.
The soft, fluffy undercoat or first feathers of animals and birds.
Refers to down or fluff, such as the soft feathers of baby birds or the fluffy seed hairs of plants. For animal fur, it can describe the soft undercoat.
ひよこは綿毛に覆われている。
The chick is covered in downy hair.
この犬の耳の内側は綿毛のように柔らかい。
The inside of this dog's ears is soft like downy hair.
Loanword from English 'down', used for the soft feathers of birds (often in bedding) or sometimes for very soft animal fur.
The fine, soft hairs found on the surface of plants.
Botanical term for soft, downy hairs on plants. Often used in technical descriptions.
この植物の葉の裏には軟毛が密生している。
The underside of this plant's leaves is densely covered with downy hair.
General descriptive phrase meaning 'fine hairs', usable for plants in non-technical contexts.
茎に細かい毛が生えている。
There are fine, downy hairs growing on the stem.
産毛 (うぶげ) is primarily used for human body hair, especially the fine hair of babies or on the face. 綿毛 (わたげ) is used for the down of birds, fluffy plant fibers (like dandelion fluff), or metaphorically for very soft animal fur. Using 産毛 for animal down is possible but less common; 綿毛 is more natural for non-human contexts.
The direct translation 'ダウニーヘア' is not used in Japanese. Always use the appropriate native term or descriptive phrase based on context.
This jacket uses high-quality down.