宿

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 宿 (やど) is a noun for lodging or an inn where a traveler stays and rests.
• Basic usage: 今夜の宿 refers to lodging for the night, and 小さな宿 describes a small lodging establishment.
  • 山を下りる前に今夜の宿を決めた。 — Before descending the mountain, we chose lodging for the night.
  • 川沿いの小さな宿で一晩休んだ。 — We spent one night at a small inn by the river.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Place and act of staying
  • 宿 is the place of lodging, while 泊まる is the act of staying there. It is broader than ホテル and includes inns and small lodgings.