元気

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 元気 is read as げんき and means healthy or energetic.
• Basic usage: It can describe a grandmother's healthy state or the energetic way children run around.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Describing a healthy state
  • 元気 states that the grandmother was very healthy when seen after a long time. Example: 久しぶりに会った祖母はとても元気だった。
• Describing energetic action
  • 元気 indicates the energetic manner in which the children have been running since morning. Example: 子どもたちは朝から元気に庭を走り回っている。