羽（はね、hane）
- feather/wing

The Japanese word 羽 羽 (pronounced はね / *hane*) primarily refers to a "feather" or "wing." It's the part of a bird that allows it to fly. It can also figuratively represent something that provides support or helps something "take flight," such as a metaphorical "wing." Additionally, 羽 can be used to count birds or sometimes butterflies.

⚫︎鳥の羽 Translation: Bird's feathers ⚫︎羽根が生える Translation: To grow wings ⚫︎蝶の羽 Translation: Butterfly's wings

This word is used when discussing birds, their physical features, or activities related to flying. It can describe both the physical 羽 and figurative ideas of having the ability to fly or supporting something. It is also used in counting birds and butterflies.

⚫︎The word is primarily written using the kanji 羽. ⚫︎The hiragana reading is はね (*hane*). ⚫︎There are no variations in okurigana for this word.

⚫︎翼 (*tsubasa*) - Wing (used more broadly, also for planes, etc.) ⚫︎羽根 (*hane*) - another way to write "feather" with kanji and kana

There aren't direct antonyms, but words relating to the inability to fly, such as "grounded" (though not a direct translation), could be considered related.

その鳥は美しい羽を持っていました。 ・Translation: That bird had beautiful feathers. ・Explanation: This sentence describes the bird's physical characteristics using the word 羽 to refer to its feathers.

夢を叶えるために、彼の言葉が私の羽になった。 ・Translation: His words became my wings to achieve my dream. ・Explanation: Here, 羽 is used metaphorically, indicating that his words provided the support necessary to achieve the dream.

The kanji 羽 depicts a feather and has been used for this meaning for a long time. The origin is linked to the idea of a bird's feathers, and the ability of a bird to fly.