Does 髭 refer to the beard or the moustache?


My dictionary lists `髭` as **moustache / beard** , but from the example
sentences in [WWWJDIC](http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/cgi-
bin/wwwjdic.cgi?1MUE%E9%AB%AD), it seems like `髭` is more often used to mean
"beard" than "moustache" ?

So for example, in this sentence: `彼はもっと大人に見えるようにひげをはやした。`, is it clear to the
listener that the speaker wanted to say "He grew a _beard_ to look more
mature", and not "He grew _mustache_ to look more mature"? Or is it ambiguous
and it could mean either one?




Your example says he grew facial hair. If it's a Japanese person, I would even
dare say that it unambiguously refers to a beard, since I haven't seen many
moustaches recently in Japan (beside mines), while I keep seeing guys
struggling to get a beard :)

The unambiguous words you can use are:

  * 顎鬚 chin beard
  * 鼻髭 moustache
  * 口髭 moustache
  * 山羊髭 goatee
  * 揉み上げ sideburns
  * 頬髭 whiskers




Your example says he grew facial hair. If it's a Japanese person, I would even
dare say that it unambiguously refers to a beard, since I haven't seen many
moustaches recently in Japan (beside mines), while I keep seeing guys
struggling to get a beard :)

The unambiguous words you can use are:

  * 顎鬚 chin beard
  * 鼻髭 moustache
  * 口髭 moustache
  * 山羊髭 goatee
  * 揉み上げ sideburns
  * 頬髭 whiskers

