foal · game piece

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 駒 denotes a foal or a game piece; the source lists the kun-reading こま and no on-reading.
• Basic usage: In the selected words, 駒 is a board-game piece, while 持ち駒 is a reusable captured piece or an available resource.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 駒 / 持ち駒
  • 駒: This noun refers to a movable piece in a board game such as shogi. Example: 盤の中央へ白い駒を進めた。
  • 持ち駒: This is a captured shogi piece available for reuse and, figuratively, a resource or bargaining chip. Example: 交渉の持ち駒が少なく、相手の提案を受け入れるしかありませんでした。