皮

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 皮 is read as かわ and is a one-character noun for the outer covering of a fruit or animal.
• Basic usage: It denotes apple peel in one context and animal hide prepared as leather in another.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Translation by referent
  • りんごの皮 is peel, while 動物の皮 is hide. The referent determines the English word.
• Associated verbs
  • Fruit skin combines with むく, to peel, while animal hide combines with なめす, to tan.