belong

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 属 is associated with belonging or attachment; its on-reading is ぞく.
• Basic usage: 所属(しょぞく) means affiliation or membership, while 金属(きんぞく) means metal.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• An affiliation and a kind of material
  • 所属する部署 means the department one belongs to. 所属 describes belonging to a department or organization.
  • 金属の板 means a sheet of metal. 金属 identifies a material compared with wood, with final 属 read ぞく.