support · branch

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 支 has 4 strokes and the on-reading し. 支える (ささえる) means to support; 支払う (しはらう) means to pay money.
• Basic usage: 支える covers physically supporting a roof and encouragement that helps someone endure. 支払う is used for paying prices or expenses.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Supporting and paying
  • 屋根を支えている describes supporting a roof. 家族の励ましが長い治療を支えた means that family encouragement helped someone endure lengthy treatment.
  • The past form of 支払う is 支払った. 代金を現金で支払った means paying the amount in cash; まとめて支払う describes paying expenses or amounts together in one payment.