翼端

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 翼端 (よくたん) is a noun for the tip of an aircraft wing or a bird's wing.
• Basic usage: It is used for painting model-airplane wingtips or a bird moving its wingtips to adjust to the wind.
  • 模型飛行機の翼端を赤く塗って見分けやすくした。 — We painted the model airplane's wingtips red to make them easy to distinguish.
  • 鳥は翼端をわずかに動かして風向きに合わせた。 — The bird slightly moved its wingtips to adjust to the wind direction.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Whole wing and wingtip
  • 翼 can refer to the entire wing, while 翼端 specifies its tip. The part being painted or moved takes を, as in 翼端を.