recommend

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 薦 is read すすめる, has 16 strokes, and relates to recommending.
• Basic usage: 薦める is read すすめる, and 推薦 is read すいせん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 薦める and 推薦
  • 薦める means recommend or suggest.
  • 本好きの友人にこの短編集を薦めるつもりだ。 means “I plan to recommend this collection of short stories to a friend who loves books.”
  • 推薦 means recommendation.
  • 先生の推薦を受けて奨学金に応募した。 means “I applied for the scholarship with my teacher's recommendation.”