綿毛

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 綿毛, read わたげ, means soft, fine, cotton-like hairs or feathers.
• Basic usage: It is used for dandelion fluff drifting in the wind or the soft covering of a young bird.
  • たんぽぽの綿毛が風に乗って飛んでいく。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Choosing fluff or down
  • The English word depends on what it covers: a dandelion's 綿毛 is fluff, while a young bird's 綿毛 is down.