tail

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 尾 conveys a tail or rear; its kun-reading is お and its on-reading is び.
• Basic usage: 尾(お) means a tail or rear, while 末尾(まつび) means the end or last part.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An animal's tail and the end of a sequence
  • 尾 is the tail swished by a fish. In 行列の尾, it refers to the rear of a procession.
  • 報告書の末尾 means the end of a report, while 番号の末尾 means the ending of a number. 末尾 identifies the last part of something extended or ordered, with 尾 read び.