祭壇

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 祭壇, read さいだん, is a noun for an altar prepared for a ceremony or prayer.
• Basic usage: Its placement appears in 中央に祭壇が置かれる, while an action before it appears in 祭壇の前で祈る.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Altar versus decoration
  • Being decorated with flowers describes the altar's appearance; flower decoration is not part of the word's basic meaning.
• 前 as the action site
  • 祭壇の前で locates the prayer in front of the altar, not on top of it.