毛皮
けがわ · kegawa · JLPT N2 · noun
fur
🦊 毛皮 = 毛 (fur, hair) + 皮 (skin, hide): fur is hair on skin
毛 means hair or fur and 皮 means skin or hide. Together they name the hair-covered skin of an animal, the pelt. Read けがわ as ke (hair) + gawa (skin).
毛 — pictograph of hair/fur, 4 strokes
毛 is a pictograph showing a tuft of hair or animal fur, with strands fanning out from a base. The original oracle bone form depicted feathers or fur clearly, and the meaning broadened from 'hair/fur' to include 'wool,' 'down,' and figuratively 'tiny' or 'rough.' It also became a common surname.
皮 — hand 又 stripping hide off animal
皮 is a pictograph showing a hand (又) peeling the skin or hide off an animal carcass. The original meaning was 'animal hide' or 'to flay,' which broadened over time to mean skin, leather, or any outer covering or surface.