cliff

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 崖 means a cliff; its kun-reading is がけ.
• Basic usage: 崖(がけ) means a cliff or bluff, while 断崖(だんがい) means a sheer cliff or precipice.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A sheer drop and the compound reading
  • 海沿いの崖 means a coastal cliff. 断崖 describes a sheer cliff facing the sea or a deep drop beside a path.
  • The standalone word 崖 is read がけ, while the latter part of 断崖 is read がい. The same character has different readings in these words.