model · mold

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 塑 means forming a shape by modeling material such as clay; its on-reading is そ.
• Basic usage: 塑像(そぞう) is a modeled clay figure, while 可塑性(かそせい) means plasticity, the capacity to be reshaped.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The property of clay and flexibility in a plan
  • Applied to clay, 可塑性が高い means it can readily be reshaped, making fine details easier to form.
  • Using 可塑性が必要だ about a plan means that it needs flexibility to change with the circumstances. The material property is used figuratively for a plan's adaptability.