尊い

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 尊い is read as とうとい and means precious, noble, or highly valuable.
• Basic usage: It can describe irreplaceable lives or evaluate sustained efforts to protect local culture as valuable.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The preciousness of life
  • 尊い命 means lives regarded as deeply precious and irreplaceable. Example: 災害現場では、多くの尊い命が失われた。
• Valuing an effort
  • 努力は尊い evaluates continued effort as worthy and precious. Example: 地域の文化を守るために続けてきた努力は尊い。