treasure

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 宝 conveys treasure or something precious.
• Basic usage: 宝（たから） means a treasure or a precious person or thing, while 宝石（ほうせき） means a gem or jewel.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Something precious and a gemstone
  • 家族の宝 can refer to a treasured family possession such as an inherited watch. Children growing up well can also be called a town's 宝, so the word is not limited to objects.
  • 宝石 refers to a stone set in a ring or a shining gem found in a cave. Here 宝 is read ほう, unlike the standalone word 宝, read たから.