soul

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 魂 denotes a soul or spirit; its on-reading is こん, and its kun-reading is たましい.
• Basic usage: Standalone 魂 means a soul or spirit, while 魂胆 means a hidden motive or scheme.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 魂 / 魂胆
  • 魂: This noun refers to a person's soul or appears figuratively in the idea of putting one's spirit into a work. Example: 昔話では、鳥が亡き人の魂を運ぶとされている。
  • 魂胆: This noun refers to a concealed intention, often with a suspicious or negative nuance. Example: 急に親切になった彼には何か魂胆がありそうです。