脚

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 脚 is read あし here and refers either to an animal's leg or to a supporting leg of furniture such as a desk.
• Basic usage: Use 長い脚で駆ける for limbs used in running and 机の脚がぐらつく for a furniture support that is loose.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Body and furniture
  • 脚 applies both to a living creature's leg and to a piece of furniture's leg. The surrounding noun shows what is moving or being supported.
• で marking means
  • In 長い脚で草原を駆け抜けた, で marks the bodily means used to run, not the location of the action.
• 脚 and 足
  • 足(あし) commonly covers the foot or lower limb more broadly. The spelling 脚 often focuses on the length or function of a leg and is also used for furniture supports.