neighbor

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is りん, and the kun readings are となる and となり. It has 16 strokes. It appears in words for an adjacent position and a neighboring person.
• Basic usage: 隣 is read となり and 隣人 is read りんじん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 隣 / 隣人
  • 隣 means next to or neighbor and is read となり. It refers to the position next to someone or a neighboring house.
  • 私の隣に妹が座っています。 means “My younger sister is sitting next to me.”
  • 隣人 means neighbor and is read りんじん. It refers to a person who lives nearby as a neighbor.
  • 留守中の植木の世話を隣人にお願いした。 means “I asked a neighbor to care for my plants while I was away.”