Translation guide
A hairpin is a small, usually U-shaped object used to hold hair in place. In Japanese, the most common word is ヘアピン, a loanword from English. There are also traditional Japanese hairpins called かんざし, which are more ornamental. This guide covers how to refer to hairpins in different contexts.
Referring to a standard, simple hairpin used to secure hair.
The most common and neutral word for a hairpin, borrowed from English. Used for the typical U-shaped metal or plastic pins.
ヘアピンを落とした。
I dropped a hairpin.
このヘアピンは曲がっている。
This hairpin is bent.
A shorter, more casual term for hairpin, often used in compound words or when the context is clear. Can also refer to other types of pins.
髪をピンで留める。
I secure my hair with a pin.
Referring to a decorative, often long, hairpin used in traditional Japanese hairstyles.
A traditional Japanese hair ornament, often worn with kimono. It can be a single prong or two-pronged, and is usually decorative.
彼女は美しいかんざしを挿している。
She is wearing a beautiful hairpin.
このかんざしは祖母からもらった。
I got this hairpin from my grandmother.
The kanji for かんざし. Used in written Japanese or formal contexts.
Referring to a flat, springy hairpin used to hold hair tightly.
In Japanese, ヘアピン can also refer to bobby pins, though sometimes distinguished by context.
ヘアピンで前髪を留めた。
I pinned my bangs back with a bobby pin.
A specific term for bobby pins, literally 'American pin'. Less common than ヘアピン.
アメリカピンを買いに行く。
I'm going to buy some bobby pins.
Referring to a sharp bend in a road resembling a hairpin.
The standard term for a hairpin turn, a loanword from English.
山道にはヘアピンカーブが多い。
There are many hairpin turns on the mountain road.
A Japanese term for a winding road with many sharp turns, often used for mountain paths.
ヘアピン refers to modern, simple hairpins, while かんざし refers to traditional, often decorative hairpins worn with kimono. Using かんざし for a bobby pin would sound odd.
浴衣にはかんざしが合う。
A hairpin goes well with a yukata.
If you are talking about a simple metal hairpin, use ヘアピン. かんざし implies a traditional, often valuable ornament.
簪のコレクションを展示している。
They are exhibiting a collection of hairpins.
We climb the winding road.