Meaning
髦 originally referred to long hair or the hair hanging down over the forehead (bangs/fringe). In classical Chinese, it could describe the hair of children or young people. In modern usage, it appears mainly in compound words, most notably 时髦 (shímáo) meaning 'fashionable' or 'trendy.'
Usage
As a standalone character, 髦 is rarely used in everyday modern Mandarin. It survives primarily in the compound 时髦, which is common in casual and formal speech when discussing fashion, trends, or being up-to-date. Native speakers would not typically use 髦 alone except in classical or literary contexts.
Examples
- 01她穿得很时髦。.She dresses very fashionably.
- 02这种发型在古代很时髦。.This hairstyle was very fashionable in ancient times.
Common collocations
- 时髦fashionable; stylish
Antonyms
Origin
The character 髦 consists of the hair radical 髟 (biāo) on top and 毛 (máo, meaning 'hair' or 'fur') below, reinforcing the meaning of hair, specifically long flowing hair.