髮

A phono-semantic compound:

髟 (long hair) — semantic component, defines the semantic field (hair)

犮 (run) — phonetic component, supplies the pronunciation (bal / fa)

髟 is the standard radical used for:

- hair

- beard

- whiskers

- long strands

犮 originally depicted a swift movement, unrelated in meaning but effective as a phonetic marker.

두발 (頭髮) — head hair

백발 (白髮) — white hair

장발 (長髮) — long hair

삭발 (削髮) — shaved head (often religious)

In East Asian tradition, hair symbolizes:

- filial piety

- personal integrity

- vital essence

This explains why shaving the head historically implied:

- punishment

- mourning

- religious renunciation

Related characters:

髟 — long hair (radical)

鬚 — beard, whiskers

鬢 — sideburns

毛 — fur, body hair

首 — head

髮 vs 毛:

髮 — human head hair

毛 — body hair, fur, bristles

髮 is more specific and refined, often used in literary or formal contexts.

Classical citations

《論語》 (The Analects)

「身體髮膚，受之父母」

“The body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents.”

Hair is seen as inherited and sacred, not to be damaged lightly.

《禮記》 (The Book of Rites)

「削髮毀容，非孝也」

“Shaving the hair and damaging the body is not filial.”