noun
hair; body hair; a hair
Refers to hair as strands or body hair in general. For the hair on one's head as a mass or hairstyle, 髪 is often the more specific word.
腕の毛をそった。
I shaved the hair on my arm.
床に長い毛が一本落ちていた。
There was a long hair lying on the floor.
noun
Used for the hair or fur covering an animal, and by extension animal fiber such as sheep's wool.
犬の毛が服についた。
The dog's fur got on my clothes.
羊の毛から糸を作る。
Thread is made from sheep's wool.
noun
Can refer to a bird's soft covering, especially down. 羽 or 羽毛 is more specific when emphasizing feathers as feathers.
ひよこの毛は黄色くて柔らかい。
A chick's down is yellow and soft.
Specifically the hair on one's head; 毛 is broader and can mean body hair, animal fur, or even down.
An everyday expression for head hair as strands; clearer than 毛 alone when referring to hair from the head.
Refers to feathers or wings; 毛 can describe soft bird down, but 羽 is the usual word for distinct feathers.
A more specific and often formal or product-label word for down or feathers, especially in bedding and clothing.
Native Japanese reading け written with the kanji 毛, which is conventionally associated with hair, fur, and similar coverings. The deeper historical derivation of the native word is not specified here.