reason · deceased

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 故 has 9 strokes, with こ among its on-readings. 故郷 (ふるさと) means hometown or homeland; 故意 (こい) concerns deliberate intent.
• Basic usage: 故郷 is used for a home one returns to or remembers. 故意 distinguishes intentional action from an accident.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Whole-word reading and denying intent
  • Here 故郷 uses the whole-word reading ふるさと. 故郷へ帰って means returning to one's hometown.
  • 故意に壊したわけではない means that the breaking was not intentional. The focus is on denying intent rather than the act of breaking itself; 故意の反則 means a deliberate foul.