枯れ葉

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 枯れ葉 is read かれは and means a withered, dry leaf.
• Basic usage: It is used for dry leaves blown together by a roadside or collected in a yard.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Compared with 落ち葉
  • 枯れ葉 focuses on the leaf's withered state, while 落ち葉(おちば) focuses on its having fallen from a tree. A leaf that has withered and fallen can be described by either term.