silver

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is ぎん, and the kun reading is しろがね. It has 14 strokes. It appears in words for silver as a metal and for banks.
• Basic usage: 銀 is read ぎん, and 銀行 is read ぎんこう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 銀 / 銀行
  • 銀 means silver and is read ぎん. It refers to silver as a metal and to objects made from it.
  • 祖母から銀の指輪を譲り受けた。 means “I inherited a silver ring from my grandmother.”
  • 銀行 means bank and is read ぎんこう. It refers to a bank that handles accounts, passbooks, and other financial services.
  • 駅前の銀行で友達と待ち合わせました。 means “I arranged to meet a friend at the bank near the station.”