万能

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 万能 is read as ばんのう and means all-purpose or universal.
• Basic usage: It can qualify a useful tool that is not universal or form the compound 万能薬 for a cure-all medicine.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• When a tool is not universal
  • 万能: This tool is useful, but it is by no means universal. Example: この道具は便利だが、決して万能ではない。
• Referring to a cure-all medicine
  • 万能: The story features a cure-all medicine for every disease. Example: 物語にはどんな病気も治す万能薬が登場する。