noun
traditional Japanese hairpin; ornamental hairpin
Refers to a specific type of traditional Japanese hairpin, often used in historical or cultural contexts.
博物館で江戸時代の笄を見た。
I saw an Edo-period hairpin at the museum.
簪 is a more general term for ornamental hairpins, while 笄 specifically refers to a traditional type often associated with formal hairstyles.
The kanji 笄 is composed of 竹 (bamboo) and 开 (open), suggesting a bamboo hairpin. The reading こうがい is of native Japanese origin, but the exact derivation is uncertain.