Hairdresser & Haircut in Chinese 理发
lǐfà
Haircut / hairdresser in Chinese are 理发 / 理发师 (lǐ fà / lǐ fà shī).
Also searched for as: haircut, barber, hair salon, hairdresser.
Time for a new look? 15 essential at the hairdresser words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
The word for getting a haircut in Chinese is 理发 (lǐ fà), and the place you go is a 理发店 (lǐ fà diàn), which covers both the barber's and the hairdresser's. These words help you explain exactly what you want, whether that's 剪短 (jiǎn duǎn), cut short, just 修一下 (xiū yī xià), a trim, or a new 刘海 (liú hǎi), fringe. Note that 发 in hair words is fà, fourth tone, not fā as in 发烧.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 理发 | lǐ fà | to get a haircut |
| 理发店 | lǐ fà diàn | hairdresser's; barber's |
| 理发师 | lǐ fà shī | hairdresser |
| 剪头发 | jiǎn tóu fa | to cut hair |
| 剪短 | jiǎn duǎn | to cut short |
| 洗头 | xǐ tóu | to wash hair |
| 吹干 | chuī gān | to blow-dry |
| 染发 | rǎn fà | to dye hair |
| 烫发 | tàng fà | to perm hair |
| 刘海 | liú hǎi | fringe; bangs |
| 发型 | fà xíng | hairstyle |
| 卷发 | juǎn fà | curly hair |
| 直发 | zhí fà | straight hair |
| 光头 | guāng tóu | shaved head |
| 修一下 | xiū yī xià | a trim |
Usage tips
- In everyday speech people often say 剪头发 (jiǎn tóu fa) or, especially in the north, just 剪头 (jiǎn tóu); 理发 sounds slightly more formal.
- 一点儿 (yī diǎnr) is your safety net: 短一点儿就行 (duǎn yī diǎnr jiù xíng), just a bit shorter, keeps a keen hairdresser from taking off too much.
- For colour, use 染成 plus the colour: 染成棕色 (rǎn chéng zōng sè), dye it brown.
Common mistakes
- 发 in 理发, 发型 and 染发 is fourth tone, fà; saying fā, as in 发烧 (fā shāo), is a very common slip.
- 'Shave my head' is 剃光头 (tì guāng tóu); learners use 刮 (guā), which is for shaving a beard, as in 刮胡子.
Mini dialogue
- A你好，今天想怎么剪？Nǐ hǎo, jīn tiān xiǎng zěn me jiǎn?Hello, how would you like it cut today?
- B修一下就好，别剪太短。Xiū yī xià jiù hǎo, bié jiǎn tài duǎn.Just a trim, please, not too short.
- A刘海要剪吗？Liú hǎi yào jiǎn ma?Shall I cut your fringe?
- B剪短一点儿吧，有点儿挡眼睛。Jiǎn duǎn yī diǎnr ba, yǒu diǎnr dǎng yǎn jing.Yes, a bit shorter, it's getting in my eyes.
- A好的，那先去洗头吧。Hǎo de, nà xiān qù xǐ tóu ba.OK, let's wash your hair first then.
Example sentences
- 我要去理发了。I need to get a haircut.
- 楼下有一家理发店。There's a hairdresser downstairs.
- 这个理发师很有名。This hairdresser is well known.
- 我想剪头发。I want to have my hair cut.
- 剪短一点儿。Cut it a bit shorter.
- 先洗头再剪。Wash first, then cut.
- 帮我吹干就行。Just blow-dry it for me.
- 她把头发染成了红色。She dyed her hair red.
- 我想烫发。I'd like a perm.
- 我想剪刘海。I want a fringe.
- 你的新发型很好看。Your new hairstyle looks great.
- 她天生卷发。She has naturally curly hair.
- 我是直发。I have straight hair.
- 他剃了个光头。He shaved his head.
- 稍微修一下就好。Just a little trim.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The At the hairdresser speaking island has 8 everyday questions about at the hairdresser to prepare your own answers to.