Translation guide
Describes hair that has lost its natural color, typically due to aging. Japanese distinguishes between the color, individual strands, and the overall appearance.
Describing the color of hair that is gray or white with age.
The most common word for gray/white hair. 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 gray hair lately.
彼は白髪交じりの髪をしている。
He has hair streaked with gray.
To become gray-haired; to go gray.
父は若い頃に白髪になった。
My father went gray when he was young.
Literally 'white hair'. Used when emphasizing the white color, often for completely white hair.
祖母は真っ白な髪をしている。
My grandmother has pure white hair.
Loanword from English, used in fashion/beauty contexts.
最近はグレーヘアを活かしたスタイルが人気だ。
Lately, styles that make the most of gray hair are popular.
Referring to one strand of gray hair.
Can mean a single gray hair when used with counters like 一本 (いっぽん).
白髪を一本見つけた。
I found a gray hair.
Describing a person who has gray hair.
Attributive form meaning 'gray-haired'. Used before nouns.
白髪の男性が道を尋ねてきた。
A gray-haired man asked me for directions.
Describes hair that is mixed with gray, not fully gray.
白髪混じりの髪が渋い。
His salt-and-pepper hair looks distinguished.
Expressing the concept of gray hair associated with age or experience.
Proverb meaning 'wisdom of age', often linked to gray hair.
白髪は年の功の証だ。
Gray hair is a sign of wisdom that comes with age.
灰色 (はいいろ) means 'gray' as a general color, but 灰色の髪 sounds unnatural for human hair. Use 白髪 instead.
白髪 (しらが) specifically means hair that has turned white/gray with age. 白い髪 (しろいかみ) can refer to naturally white or dyed white hair.
白髪が生え始めた。
I'm starting to get gray hair.
彼女は白髪を染めている。
She dyes her gray hair.