foot of a mountain

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 麓 denotes the foot or foothills of a mountain; its on-reading is ろく, and its kun-reading is ふもと.
• Basic usage: Standalone 麓 is read ふもと, while the compound 山麓 is read さんろく; both refer to the lower part of a mountain.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 麓 / 山麓
  • 麓: This word refers to the foothills where a lodge or field may be located. Example: 山の麓にある宿から、朝早く登山道へ向かった。
  • 山麓: This compound refers to the area at a mountain's foot or to a village located there. Example: 山麓の村で一晩休んだ。