stick

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 棒 has 12 strokes and denotes a stick or rod.
• Basic usage: 棒（ぼう） means a stick or rod; 棒読み（ぼうよみ） means reading with little variation in tone or expression.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Marking a tool
  • In 長い棒で木の上の帽子を落とした, someone used a long stick to knock a hat out of a tree.
  • で marks the tool used.
• Delivery and a negative linking form
  • 棒読みせず means without reading in a monotone. It leads into 意味を考えて読もう, a suggestion to read while thinking about the meaning.