lump

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 塊 means a lump or mass; its kun-reading is かたまり and its on-reading is かい.
• Basic usage: 塊(かたまり) means a lump or mass, while 金塊(きんかい) means a gold bar or ingot.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A lump of soil and a mass of clouds
  • 土の塊 means a lump of soil, while 雲の塊 means a mass of clouds. 塊 applies to clouds gathered into a visible mass as well as to solid material.