gun

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is じゅう, and no kun reading is listed. It has 14 strokes. It appears in words for guns, including handguns.
• Basic usage: 銃 is read じゅう, and 拳銃 is read けんじゅう.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 銃 / 拳銃
  • 銃 means gun or rifle and is read じゅう. It broadly refers to a gun or rifle.
  • 博物館の展示には古い銃が置かれていた。 means “An old gun was displayed in the museum exhibit.”
  • 拳銃 means handgun or pistol and is read けんじゅう. It specifically refers to a handgun or pistol.
  • 警察は現場で拳銃を一丁押収した。 means “Police seized a handgun at the scene.”