表紙

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 表紙(ひょうし) refers to the cover of a book or magazine.
• Basic usage: It appears when discussing a cover photograph or protecting an old book's exterior.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Front and back covers
  • 裏表紙 specifies the back cover in contrast with the front.
  • When a magazine photograph is described as its 表紙, the reference can be to the cover design using that photograph.
• Difference from カバー
  • カバー broadly means a cover or protective covering; for books it can refer to a separate jacket wrapped around the cover.