wisdom

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 哲 is associated with wisdom or deep thought; its on-reading is てつ.
• Basic usage: The word for philosophy is 哲学(てつがく), and a philosopher is 哲学者(てつがくしゃ).

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An academic subject and a working principle
  • 哲学 can name a subject studied at university, but it can also refer to guiding ideas or principles, as in 仕事の哲学.
  • A work philosophy of using tools for a long time describes a person's approach to work.