noun
sideburns; sidelocks; tuft of hair in front of the ears
Refers to the hair growing in front of the ears, often styled or left natural. The term is neutral and commonly used in everyday contexts.
彼はもみあげを長く伸ばしている。
He grows his sideburns long.
床屋でもみあげを整えてもらった。
I had my sideburns trimmed at the barber.
Katakana spelling; sometimes used for emphasis or in informal writing.
Derived from the verb 揉む (もむ, 'to rub' or 'to knead') and 上げ (あげ, 'raising'), possibly from the action of rubbing or styling the hair upward. The exact origin is uncertain.