小川

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 小川 is a noun read おがわ, meaning a small, narrow stream or brook.
• Basic usage: Use 小川が森の中を流れる for a stream flowing through a forest and 小川に石を並べる for arranging stones in it to cross.
  • 森の中を澄んだ小川が流れています。 describes a clear stream flowing through the forest; 子どもたちは小川に石を並べて渡りました。 describes children laying stones in the brook and crossing it.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 森の中を流れる
  • を marks the forest interior as the space through which the stream flows.
• 澄んだ小川
  • 澄んだ describes the stream's water as clear and clean.
• 小川に石を並べる
  • に marks where the stones are placed, while を marks the stones being arranged.