実際

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 実際, read じっさい, refers to reality or direct experience rather than an impression.
• Basic usage: In 簡単そうだと思ったが、実際に作ると時間がかかった。, it seemed simple, but actually making it took time.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• の and に
  • 実際の建物 uses の to modify a noun; 実際に作る uses に to modify the action, meaning to actually make it.