feathers, counter for birds, rabbits
羽 centers on feathers and wings, the light structures that cover birds. The counter sense extends this to counting birds and rabbits, treating them as winged creatures.
羽 is a pictograph of two wings or feathers side by side. The modern form retains the paired wing-like strokes.
The two side-by-side shapes look like a pair of wings or feathers. Picture a bird's wing with feathers spread out: 羽.
For ウ, imagine a feather floating gently in the air, making a soft 'oo' sound as it drifts: oo -> ウ.
counter for birds or rabbits
feather; plume; down
panel; wainscoting; wainscotting
feather; plume; plumage; down
chicken wing
to put on (coat, gown, etc.)
to flap (wings)
haori (Japanese formal coat)
emergence (of insects); eclosion; growing wings
swallowtail butterfly (esp. the citrus swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus)
angel's raiment; robe of feathers
to be at one's wits' end; to be cornered; to be in a fix; to be in a desperate situation; to be in a pinch; to be in a predicament; to be packed to the hilt
white feather
Dewa (former province located in present-day Yamagata and Akita prefectures)
(string of) many (traditionally 1000) paper cranes
flapping sound (of wings); fluttering; hum (of insects); buzz (of bees, etc.)
tail feathers
tail and feathers
Ōu (the two former provinces of Mutsu and Dewa); Tōhoku
raincoat