station

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 駅 denotes a station; the source lists only the on-reading えき.
• Basic usage: Standalone 駅 refers to the station itself, while 駅前 means the space in front of it or the surrounding station area.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 駅 / 駅前
  • 駅: This basic noun refers to a railway or train station. Example: 学校から駅まで歩いて十分です。
  • 駅前: This word can mean directly in front of the station or the broader area around it. Example: 駅前で友人と待ち合わせて映画館へ向かった。