粒

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 粒 (つぶ) is a noun for a small grain or piece and also a counter for small rounded items.
• Basic usage: It counts a single bean or identifies a grain of rice being examined.
  • 皿の上に豆が一粒だけ残っていました。 — Only one bean remained on the plate.
  • 農夫は米の粒を指でつまんで状態を確かめました。 — The farmer picked up a grain of rice and checked its condition.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Grain and counter
  • 粒 can name a small grain itself and, in 一粒, function as the counter for one small rounded item.