nun

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 尼 means a nun; its kun-reading is あま and its on-reading is に.
• Basic usage: 尼僧(にそう) means a Buddhist nun, while 尼寺(あまでら) means a nunnery.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A nun as a person and a nunnery as a place
  • In the examples, 尼僧 is the nun who serves a traveler tea or teaches children to read and write. Here 尼 is read に.
  • 尼寺 identifies the temple where the traveler asks for lodging. In this word, 尼 is read あま and the following 寺 is read でら.