far

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on readings are えん, おん, and the kun reading is とおい. It has 13 strokes and relates to physical distance and declining or refraining from an action.
• Basic usage: 遠い is read とおい, and 遠慮 is read えんりょ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 遠い / 遠慮
  • 遠い means far or distant and is read とおい. It describes a long distance between places or something located far away.
  • 私の家から海までは遠いです。 means “It is far from my house to the sea.”
  • 遠慮 means restraint or declining an offer and is read えんりょ. It refers to declining an offer or refraining from an action out of restraint.
  • お茶のお代わりを勧められたが遠慮した。 means “I was offered more tea, but I declined.”