castle

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 城 means castle; its kun-reading is しろ and its on-reading is じょう.
• Basic usage: 城(しろ) is the castle itself, while 城下町(じょうかまち) is a town that developed around a castle.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A castle and the town around it
  • 城下町の古い道 means an old street in a castle town. The word includes the surrounding streets and settlement, extending beyond the castle building itself.
  • 城 also names a castle children build on a beach. In this use, it refers to a castle shape made in play.