寄付

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 寄付 is a noun and irregular transitive verb read きふ, meaning a donation of money or goods without payment in return.
• Basic usage: The recipient takes に, the donated item takes を, and its use can be stated with 修理費に使われる.
  • 使わない本を地域の図書室に寄付した。 describes donating unused books to a local library; 祭りで集まった寄付は修理費に使われる。 says that donations collected at the festival will be used for repairs.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 本を図書室に寄付する
  • を marks the donated goods, while に marks the recipient.
• 寄付が集まる
  • が marks the donations collected from multiple contributors.
• 修理費に使われる
  • に marks the purpose for which the funds are used, and the passive focuses on that use.