swamp · abundance

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 沢 has 7 strokes and denotes a mountain stream or forms part of words such as 贅沢.
• Basic usage: 贅沢 is read ぜいたく, and 沢 is read さわ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Meaning depends on the word
  • 沢の水音 is the sound of a mountain stream.
  • 贅沢な料理 describes an extravagant meal.
• Valued leisure as a luxury
  • In 本を読む時間が私には最高の贅沢だ, the speaker presents time to read as their greatest luxury. The word does not necessarily refer only to buying expensive things.