冬

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 冬(ふゆ) means winter, the season after autumn and before spring.
• Basic usage: It describes winter cold, freezing lakes, or preparations for the season.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Different readings in compounds
  • 冬休み(ふゆやすみ) means winter vacation; 冬季(とうき) is a written-style word for the winter season. The first character has different readings in these words.