skin、leather、fur、hide与peel这些名词均含“皮、皮肤”之意。
skin : 最常用词,指人的皮肤或动物的皮,也可指水果、植物和种子等的外皮。
- Frail, fine-boned, so white of skin that her flaming hair seemed to have drawn all the color from her face into its vital burnished mass, she was nevertheless possessed of exuberant health and untiring energy.
看来外表娇弱,骨骼纤秀,皮肤白皙得好像那火焰般的头发把她的脸上的全部血色都吸收到这炫亮的一丛里来了,可是她却有着充沛的精神和不倦的体力。
——《飘》(Gone with the Wind)
leather : 通常指经过加工的熟皮,可用于制作各种皮革制品。
- 该皮革柔软而结实,足以用上数年。但要小心别让铁丝网钩破它。
The leather is supple and sturdy enough to last for years. But be careful not to snag it on the barbed wire.
fur : 现多指猫、兔等动物软毛皮,也指其它动物的毛皮。
- elegant ladies in furs
穿着裘皮衣服的高雅贵妇
hide : 多指大型动物的厚皮,也指没有鞣的牛、马等皮革。
- boots made from buffalo hide
用水牛皮做的靴子
peel : 指剩下的或可以剥去的果皮或蔬菜皮。
- Have you peeled the potatoes?
你给土豆刮皮了吗? - They climbed two more flights until they reached a door with peeling paint and a small plaque on it, saying RONALD'S ROOM.
他们又爬了两层,来到一扇油漆剥落的房门前,门上有块小牌子写着“罗恩的房间”。
——《哈利·波特与密室》(Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)