feed

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 餌 denotes animal feed or bait; its on-reading is じ, and its kun-readings are え and えさ.
• Basic usage: 餌 is literal feed or bait, while 餌食 refers to prey or a victim.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 餌 / 餌食
  • 餌: Read as えさ, this noun refers to animal feed or bait placed on a hook. Example: 釣り針に餌を付けて静かに川へ投げた。
  • 餌食: This word can refer to literal prey or, figuratively, to a victim of something such as fraud. Example: 甘い誘いに乗れば詐欺の餌食になりかねない。