curse · charm

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 呪 is associated with curses or magical words; its on-reading is じゅ, and its verb reading is のろう.
• Basic usage: 呪文, read じゅもん, means a spell or incantation; 呪い, read のろい, means a curse.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Words repeated like a spell
  • 呪文を唱える means reciting a spell.
  • 呪文のように is a comparison meaning like a spell. It can describe repeating a reminder to oneself every day, such as not needing to rush.