(かわ)

かわ
noun
skin, peel, leather
1. skin
The outer covering of an animal or human body.
(とり)(かわ)()べる。
To eat chicken skin.
(さかな)(かわ)()ってください。
Please remove the fish skin.
(とり)(かわ)をカリカリに()くとおいしい。
Chicken skin is delicious when grilled until crispy.
()()けて、背中(せなか)(かわ)()けてきた。
I got sunburned and the skin on my back started peeling.
(なつ)(うみ)日焼(ひや)けしすぎて、背中(せなか)(かわ)がぼろぼろに()けてしまった。
I got too much sun at the beach in summer, and the skin on my back peeled badly.
2. peel, rind
The outer layer of fruits or vegetables.
りんごの(かわ)()く。
To peel an apple.
みかんの(かわ)()いた。
I peeled a mandarin orange.
(たま)ねぎの(かわ)()くと(なみだ)()る。
My eyes water when I peel onions.
じゃがいもの(かわ)(うす)()いた(ほう)がいい。
It's better to peel potatoes thinly.
このりんごは(かわ)ごと()べられるので、()かなくても大丈夫(だいじょうぶ)だ。
You can eat this apple with the skin on, so you don't need to peel it.
3. leather, hide
Animal skin treated for use.
(かわ)(くつ)()った。
I bought leather shoes.
(かわ)のジャケットは(たか)い。
Leather jackets are expensive.
この(かばん)本物(ほんもの)(かわ)ですか。
Is this bag made of real leather?
(かわ)財布(さいふ)使(つか)うほど(あじ)()てくる。
Leather wallets develop more character the more you use them.
(ちち)にもらった(かわ)(くつ)大切(たいせつ)にしていて、もう十年(じゅうねん)使(つか)っている。
I take good care of the leather shoes I got from my father, and I've been using them for ten years now.

(かわ) is a versatile word referring to outer coverings: animal/human skin, fruit peels, and leather.

COMMON VERBS:

  • (かわ)()く: to peel (fruit/vegetables)
  • (かわ)()ける: skin peels off
  • (かわ)()ぐ: to shed skin (snakes)

COMPARE SIMILAR WORDS:

  • (かわ): skin, peel, leather (general outer covering)
  • (かわ): leather (processed animal hide)
  • (はだ): skin (human, focusing on texture/complexion)
  • 皮膚(ひふ): skin (medical/formal term)

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 毛皮(けがわ): fur
  • 皮肉(ひにく): irony, sarcasm
  • (とり)(かわ): chicken skin