fly

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 飛 denotes flying or jumping movement; its on-reading is ひ, and its kun-readings are とぶ and とばす.
• Basic usage: 飛ぶ describes a subject flying or jumping, while 飛ばす means to make something fly or to skip something.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 飛ぶ / 飛ばす
  • 飛ぶ: This verb describes the subject itself flying or jumping, as with a bird or a person crossing a ditch. Example: 青い鳥が森の向こうへ飛んでいった。
  • 飛ばす: This transitive verb can send something flying, and it can also mean to skip a passage or step. Example: 子どもたちは広場で紙飛行機を飛ばした。