The word 羽毛 is formed by combining two characters that each represent a key aspect of the final concept. The first character, 羽, is a pictograph depicting the fletching or vanes of a feather. The second, 毛, represents fine hair or fur. Together, they create a compound where 羽 provides the core category ("feather-like") and 毛 specifies the material's nature ("fine, hairlike strands"), resulting in the complete meaning of "feather" as an object with a central shaft and soft, hairlike barbs.