algae

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 藻 is read も, has 19 strokes, and relates to algae or seaweed.
• Basic usage: 藻 is read も, and 海藻 is read かいそう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 藻 and 海藻
  • 藻 means algae.
  • 浅い池の底に緑色の藻が生えている。 means “Green algae grow on the bottom of the shallow pond.”
  • 海藻 means seaweed.
  • 岩場に付いた海藻を観察した。 means “We observed seaweed attached to the rocks.”