pay · sweep away

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 払 has 5 strokes, the on-reading ふつ, and the kun-reading はらう. 払う (はらう) means to pay or brush something off.
• Basic usage: 払う describes paying money or removing something by brushing it away; 支払い (しはらい) names a payment.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Paying money and brushing off snow
  • 昼食代は私がまとめて払います says that the speaker will pay the lunch bill all at once. 上着の雪を払った means brushed snow off a coat.
  • 食事の支払いをカードで済ませました means paid for the meal by card. 工事代金の支払いは来月の予定です means that payment for construction is scheduled for next month.