lake

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 湖 has 12 strokes and denotes a lake.
• Basic usage: 湖 is read みずうみ, and 湖畔 is read こはん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The lake and its shore
  • 静かな湖に月が映っている describes the moon reflected in a still lake.
  • 湖畔の小さな宿 is a small lodge beside the lake. 湖 in 湖畔 is read こ, and the word refers to a place at the edge rather than the water itself.