gold · metal

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on readings are きん or こん, and the kun readings are かね or かな. It has 8 strokes. It appears in words for metal, gold, and money.
• Basic usage: お金 is read おかね, and 金 is read きん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• お金 / 金
  • お金 means money and is read おかね. It refers to money used in everyday life.
  • 旅行のために少しずつお金をためています。 means “I am saving money little by little for a trip.”
  • 金 means gold and is read きん. It refers to gold as a metal and to objects made from it.
  • 祖母から金の指輪を譲り受けた。 means “I inherited a gold ring from my grandmother.”