短发 (duǎn fà) literally means 'short hair' — 短 (duǎn) means 'short' and 发 (fà) means 'hair'. Together, they form a compound noun referring specifically to a hairstyle where the hair is cut relatively short, typically above the shoulders. Unlike 发型 (fàxíng, 'hairstyle'), which emphasizes style or fashion, 短发 focuses on length as the defining feature.

This term is commonly used in daily conversations about personal appearance, beauty salons, fashion, or health-related contexts (e.g., after medical treatment). It’s gender-neutral and applies equally to men and women, though cultural expectations for short hair may differ by gender. In Chinese, it functions as a noun and usually appears after classifiers like 一 (yī) or descriptive adjectives like 自然的 (zìrán de, 'natural') or 利落的 (lìluo de, 'neat'). It does not take aspect markers (like 了 or 过) because it’s a static noun, not a verb.