凝視

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 凝視（ぎょうし） means staring intently with one's gaze concentrated on something.
• Basic usage: 窓の外をじっと凝視していた and 写真の一点を長く凝視し identify both the target of the gaze and the sustained attention.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• More focused than simply looking
  • 見る is the broad verb for seeing or looking, while 凝視する emphasizes concentrated visual attention. In the examples, じっと and 長く make the stillness and duration more specific.
• Distinguishing a general view
  • 眺める can describe looking at scenery. 凝視する focuses less on the extent of the view and more on fixing one's gaze on a target.