ash

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 灰 has 6 strokes and appears in names for ash left after burning and materials such as lime.
• Basic usage: 灰 is read はい, and 石灰 is read せっかい.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Ash and lime
  • 白い灰が残りました means that white ash remained. Here, 灰 is read はい.
  • 壁に石灰を塗って means coating a wall with lime. 石灰 is read せっかい, with a small っ.