幕

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 幕(まく) means a curtain screening a stage or a division of a play called an act.
• Basic usage: It is used for a curtain physically rising and for a performance coming to an end.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 幕を閉じる
  • In the example, 幕を閉じた means that the performance ended. It focuses on the close of the performance rather than simply moving a piece of fabric.
• A division of a play
  • 一幕(ひとまく) can mean one act of a play. In that use, it counts a part of the work rather than a physical curtain.