虎

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 虎 is read as とら and is a noun for the large striped cat known as a tiger.
• Basic usage: The animal is the subject in 虎が姿を現す, while a physical feature appears in 虎の縞模様.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Spelling versus 寅
  • The animal is written 虎, while the tiger sign of the zodiac is commonly distinguished as 寅.
• Reading in this entry
  • The standalone noun here is read とら; readings found in compounds should not replace the assigned reading.