遅咲き

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 遅咲き, read おそざき, means blooming late or having one's talent recognized later in life.
• Basic usage: It can describe both cherry blossoms delayed by cold weather and a painter recognized later in life.
  • 今年は寒さが長引き、桜は遅咲きだった。

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Voicing in the compound
  • When 咲き(さき) appears in 遅咲き(おそざき), it is read as ざき.