jewel · disk

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 璧 has 18 strokes, with 玉 at the bottom, distinguishing it from 壁, which has 土 in that position.
• Basic usage: 完璧 is read かんぺき, and 双璧 is read そうへき.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Perfection and a foremost pair
  • In 完璧, 璧 is read ぺき.
  • 完璧に見えた means looked perfect, without establishing that there were actually no flaws.
  • In 双璧, 璧 is read へき.
  • It describes two outstanding peers, applied in the examples to two artisans and to two major works.