lead

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is えん, and the kun reading is なまり. It has 13 strokes. It appears in words for lead as a metal and for pencils.
• Basic usage: 鉛 is read なまり, and 鉛筆 is read えんぴつ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 鉛 / 鉛筆
  • 鉛 means lead and is read なまり. It refers to lead, a heavy metal.
  • 鉛は重い金属なので扱いに注意する。 means “Lead is a heavy metal and must be handled carefully.”
  • 鉛筆 means pencil and is read えんぴつ. It refers to a pencil used for writing.
  • 新しい鉛筆でノートに予定を書いた。 means “I wrote the schedule in my notebook with a new pencil.”