Definitions

mustache

Etymology phono-semantic

hair

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "髭" specifically denotes mustache hair, and its structure integrates the semantic component "髟", which relates to hair, with the phonetic component "此" to form a pictophonetic character. Etymologically, this combination has been used to represent the concept of upper lip hair since its inception, and the character's meaning has remained focused on this specific facial hair without broadening to other references over time.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image
Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)
Bronze etymology image
Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)
Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern