Meaning
刘海 refers to the hair that is cut short and hangs over the forehead. It's the standard modern Chinese term for bangs or fringe hairstyle. The word can refer to various bang styles including straight-cut, side-swept, or wispy bangs.
Usage
Commonly used in everyday conversation about hairstyles and appearance. Often appears with verbs like 剪 (to cut), 留 (to grow/keep), or 梳 (to comb). The term is neutral in register and used by both men and women, though more frequently associated with women's hairstyles in contemporary usage.
Examples
- 01她昨天去理发店剪了刘海，看起来年轻了很多。, .She went to the hair salon yesterday to cut bangs, and she looks much younger.
- 02我的刘海太长了，总是挡住眼睛。, .My bangs are too long; they always block my eyes.
Characters
Common collocations
- 剪刘海to cut bangs
- 留刘海to grow/keep bangs
- 齐刘海straight-cut bangs
- 空气刘海wispy/airy bangs
Origin
The term comes from a folk legend about Liu Hai (刘海), an immortal in Chinese mythology often depicted with distinctive bangs covering his forehead. The hairstyle became associated with his name and eventually became the general term for bangs.