鍾乳洞

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 鍾乳洞 is read as しょうにゅうどう and means a limestone cave or cavern.
• Basic usage: It can be the dark cave explored with a guide or the cavern whose ceiling drips water.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Walking through a dark cave
  • 鍾乳洞の中を歩く means walking through the cave interior with a guide. Example: 案内人と一緒に暗い鍾乳洞の中を歩きました。
• Water dripping from the ceiling
  • 鍾乳洞の天井から identifies the cave ceiling as the source of the water drops. Example: 鍾乳洞の天井から水滴が落ちています。