脱ぐ
nu-gu
Why 'peeling off one layer' means lending a hand
The picture A layer that was wrapped around the body is pulled off and set down outside it. 脱ぐ pulls the wrapping off the body; 着る brings it back down over the body.
Where the picture shows up in 脱ぐ
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Shoes off the feet
ここで靴を脱いでください。
koko de kutsu o nuide kudasai
Please take your shoes off here.
At the threshold a heel lifts, the shoe slides off, and both are set side by side on the entry floor.
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Jacket off the shoulders
暑いので上着を脱ぎます。
atsui node uwagi o nugi-masu
It's hot, so I'll take my jacket off.
A jacket is dragged down off damp shoulders and carried over the arm.
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Hat off the head
帽子を脱いで挨拶しました。
bōshi o nuide aisatsu shimashita
He took off his hat and greeted us.
A hand lifts the hat clear of the head, holds it at the chest, and the head bows.
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Gloves off the hands
手袋を脱いでから触ってください。
tebukuro o nuide kara sawatte kudasai
Take the gloves off before you touch it.
Fingers pull out one by one, the glove turns inside out, and bare fingertips appear.
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Shedding a layer to jump in
今回は一肌脱ぎます。
konkai wa hito-hada nugi-masu
This time I'll roll up my sleeves for you.
A coat is thrown off, sleeves pushed back, and bare arms take up someone else's load.
一肌脱ぐ is not about clothes; it means throwing your strength behind someone.
All of it in one picture
脱ぐ is one hand peeling a layer off the body. Slip the shoes off your feet and you are unshod; pull the jacket off your shoulders and the heat eases; lift the hat off your head and it becomes a greeting; strip the gloves off your hands and bare skin can touch; shed one layer and roll your sleeves and you have thrown yourself into someone else's job. 脱ぐ always lands on one layer fewer, with whatever was under it straight out in the open.