What is the difference between "髪" and "神"?

"髪" means "hair (on the head)" (N4), whereas "神" represents "god; deity; spirit" (N4).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "かみ (kami)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

かみ (kami)

N4 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

かみ (kami)

N4 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "かみ (kami)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

髪 (Level: N4): Translates to "hair (on the head)" and is used when Specifically refers to the hair on one's head. Not to be confused with 毛.
神 (Level: N4): Maps to "god; deity; spirit" and carries the nuance of Noun. Refers to a deity or sacred being in various religions and mythologies..

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "髪"

彼女は長い髪を持っています。

She has long hair.

Bilingual Context for "神"

日本にはたくさんの神様がいる。

There are many gods in Japan.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "彼女は長い＿＿＿を持っています。" (Meaning: "She has long hair.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "髪" is used for "hair (on the head)" in the context: "She has long hair.".