monument

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 碑 has 14 strokes and concerns monuments bearing inscriptions.
• Basic usage: 石碑 is read せきひ, and 碑文 is read ひぶん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A monument and its inscription
  • 石碑の文字 means the characters on a stone monument.
  • 碑文を写し取った means copied the inscription.
  • 石碑 names the stone monument, while 碑文 names the text inscribed on it.