spot · mottled

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 斑 has 12 strokes; the word 斑 is read まだら, and 斑点 is read はんてん.
• Basic usage: 斑 describes a patchy or mottled pattern of color; 斑点 denotes spots or speckles.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A mottled pattern and individual spots
  • 斑になっていた means that the color had become patchy. 斑模様 denotes a pattern with mixed colors, such as white and black.
  • 葉の表面に茶色い斑点 focuses on brown spots on a leaf. 斑 and 斑点 describe related appearances, but the latter focuses on marks shaped like spots.