1.
leg (of a person or animal); limb
The whole limb from the hip to the foot — what supports the body and is used for walking. Distinct from 足 (foot), though the readings are identical and the words overlap in casual writing.
脚 and 足 share the same reading but differ in scope:
- 脚: the whole leg (hip to foot), plus furniture/equipment legs
- 足: the foot proper (ankle down), and by extension the lower limb in casual use
In everyday writing, 足 is often used for both. 脚 is preferred when the context emphasizes the leg as a limb (anatomy, fashion, sports) or when referring to non-human "legs."