Kanji Breakdown: 剥
Core Meaning: To peel, strip, remove surface layer; to come off
Reading: ハク (haku) / は・がす (hagasu) / は・げる (hageru)
Structure Analysis:
彔 (record): phonetic component
刂 (knife radical): cutting tool
Character combines "recording tool" with "knife" - originally depicting carving or scraping surfaces.
Essential Vocabulary & Usage
1. 剥ぐ (はぐ・hagu) - To tear off, strip
"He peeled the wallpaper from the wall."
彼は壁から壁紙を剥いだ。
2. 剥がす (はがす・hagasu) - To peel off (transitive)
"Please remove the price tag."
値札を剥がしてください。
3. 剥げる (はげる・hageru) - To peel off (intransitive)
"The wall paint is peeling."
壁のペンキが剥げている。
4. 剥奪 (はくだつ・hakudatsu) - Deprivation, stripping
"His license was revoked."
彼の免許は剥奪された。
Key Insight
剥 describes surface layer removal - whether intentional (peeling stickers) or natural (paint chipping). It's essential for describing physical separation of layers in daily life, construction, and legal contexts (rights stripping). The character distinguishes between active removal (剥がす) and passive flaking (剥げる).
*Stroke Order: 10 strokes - write left component first, then 刂 radical.*