salt

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 塩 means salt; its kun-reading is しお and its on-reading is えん.
• Basic usage: 塩(しお) is salt itself, while 塩分(えんぶん) refers to salt content in food or water.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Salt that is added and salt content
  • 塩 names the salt added to soup or kept in a bag. 食事の塩分 refers to the salt content of meals.
  • 塩分の濃さ means salt concentration. 塩分 also describes salt present in seawater as well as in food.