凡例

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The written form is 凡例, read はんれい. The modern meaning is not transparent from the individual characters; it names the key explaining colors or symbols in a map or graph.
• Basic usage: 地図の凡例 is the guide used to interpret map colors, while 記号の凡例 is an explanation of graph symbols.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A key to colors
  • The separate explanatory key shows what the colors in the map represent. Example: 地図の凡例を見て色の意味を確かめた。 — I checked the map legend to learn what the colors meant.
• Placement of a symbol key
  • It can be an explanatory element added at a specified position such as the lower right of a graph. Example: グラフの右下に記号の凡例を追加した。 — I added a key for the symbols at the lower right of the graph.