wear · tread

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 履 is associated with wearing footwear or treading; its kun-reading is はく and its on-reading is り.
• Basic usage: 履く(はく) means to put on or wear shoes or trousers, while 履歴(りれき) means history or a usage record.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Wearing shoes or trousers and records of the past
  • 靴を履いて means putting on shoes, while ズボンを履く means to wear trousers. Japanese uses the same verb for both, although Korean uses different verbs for footwear and clothing.
  • 活動履歴 means activity history, while 使用履歴 means a usage log. 履歴 applies to a person's activities and to a device's usage records.