水玉

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 水玉(みずたま) here refers to polka dots, a pattern of repeated round spots.
• Basic usage: It describes round dots on an umbrella or fabric.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Names of patterns
  • 水玉模様 is a polka-dot pattern, while 縞模様 is a striped pattern.
• What the color modifies
  • In 白い水玉, the dots are white. The fabric's background color and the color of its dots can be described separately.