noun
haircutting; hair cutter
Refers to the act of cutting hair or a person who cuts hair. Can be used for a hairdresser or barber, though more specific terms like 美容師 or 理容師 are common.
彼女は髪切りが上手だ。
She is good at haircutting.
あの髪切りは評判がいい。
That hair cutter has a good reputation.
noun
prostitute cutting a customer's hair to show genuine feelings
Dated term from the Edo period referring to a courtesan's gesture of cutting a patron's hair as a sign of sincere affection.
江戸時代の遊女が行った髪切りは、本気の証だった。
The hair-cutting done by courtesans in the Edo period was a proof of genuine feelings.
noun
long-horned beetle
Abbreviation of 髪切り虫 (かみきりむし), a common name for long-horned beetles (family Cerambycidae). Used in casual or colloquial contexts.
See also: 天牛
庭で髪切りを見つけた。
I found a long-horned beetle in the garden.
noun
kamikiri (mythical creature that cuts hair)
In Japanese folklore, a yōkai that secretly cuts people's hair, often associated with pranks or supernatural encounters.
髪切りは夜中に現れて、寝ている人の髪を切るという。
The kamikiri is said to appear at night and cut the hair of sleeping people.
美容師 is the standard term for a hairdresser or beautician, while 髪切り is a more general or colloquial term for a hair cutter.
理容師 specifically refers to a barber, whereas 髪切り can refer to anyone who cuts hair, including barbers and hairdressers.
髪切り虫 is the full term for long-horned beetle; 髪切り is a common abbreviation.
Compound of 髪 (かみ, 'hair') and 切り (きり, 'cutting', from 切る). The mythical creature sense is a direct nominalization of the action of cutting hair. The beetle sense is an abbreviation of 髪切り虫, named for its strong mandibles that can cut hair-like fibers.