‘削皮’ (xiāo pí) is a verb meaning ‘to peel (the skin off something)’, especially fruits, vegetables, or root crops. The first character 削 means ‘to pare, shave, or whittle away’, and the second character 皮 means ‘skin’ or ‘rind’. Together, they literally mean ‘to shave off the skin’. This term is commonly used in cooking, food preparation, and daily household tasks — for example, peeling apples before baking, removing potato skins before boiling, or preparing ginger for stir-frying.

Unlike the more general verb 剥 (bō), which can refer to peeling, shelling, or stripping in broader contexts (e.g., peeling an orange or cracking nuts), 削皮 specifically implies using a tool like a peeler or knife to remove a thin outer layer. It’s neutral in register and appropriate for both spoken and written Chinese, though it rarely applies to people or animals — that would be inappropriate or metaphorical.