recommend

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 勧 means to recommend or encourage; 勧める is read すすめる.
• Basic usage: 勧める is used to recommend a book or offer a guest a seat.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Recipient and recommendation
  • In 客に窓側の席を勧める, に marks the recipient and を marks the seat being offered.
• The role of お勧め
  • お勧め refers to a recommendation or recommended item. 今日のお勧め identifies today's recommended item, while 勧める describes the act of recommending.