革かわ

か

わ

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

Refers to animal skin that has been tanned and processed into a durable material. Used for clothing, accessories, furniture, etc.

このバッグは革かわでできている。

This bag is made of leather.

革かわの手て袋ぶくろを買かった。

I bought leather gloves.

Usage patterns

革かわの〈物もの〉a leather (item)
彼かの女じょは革かわのバッグを持もっている。
She has a leather bag.
革かわをなめすto tan leather
職しょく人にんが丁てい寧ねいに革かわをなめしている。
The craftsman is carefully tanning the leather.
革かわが伸のびるfor leather to stretch
この靴くつは履はくうちに革かわが伸のびる。
This leather stretches as you wear the shoes.

Kanji

革leather, skin, reform

Related words

レザー
革 is the native Japanese word for leather used in everyday and technical contexts, while レザー is a trendier loanword often seen in fashion branding.
皮ひ革かく
革 is the common, everyday word for leather, while 皮革 is more formal and often used in industry or product descriptions.

Don't confuse with

皮かわN3
革 is processed, tanned leather used for goods, while 皮 is raw animal skin, fruit peel, or rind before processing.
毛け皮がわN2
毛皮 means fur or pelt with the hair still attached, whereas 革 refers to leather that has been tanned and had the hair removed.
川かわN5
川 (river) and 革 (leather, hide) share the same pronunciation かわ but have no semantic connection, so context or kanji is needed to tell them apart.

Counted with

枚まいN3
Leather is typically counted as a flat material or sheets/skins, so 枚 is the natural choice.

Word family· 49

革かわ靴ぐつ
leather shoes; leather boots
牛ぎゅう革かわ
cowhide; oxhide
革かわ製せい品ひん
leather goods; leather products
藍あい革かわ
indigo-dyed leather

Etymology

The kanji 革 originally depicts an animal hide being stretched on a frame, representing the process of making leather. The reading かわ is the native Japanese word for skin or leather.

つり革かわ

N1

hanging strap; hand strap

Show 10 more

力ちから革がわ
leather stirrup
帯おび革かわ
leather belt · machine belt; drive belt
底そこ革がわ
sole leather; sole
本ほん革がわ
genuine leather; real leather
紐ひも革かわ
strap; thong
羊ひつじ革がわ
sheepskin
背せ革がわ
leather spine of a book
舌した革がわ
tongue of a shoe
蛇へび革がわ
snakeskin; snake leather
裏うら革がわ
suede; underside leather · underside leather piece; leather lining piece

See all 49 in Explore →