節

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 節 is read as ふし in this entry and is a noun for a joint in bamboo or a characteristic musical phrase or melody.
• Basic usage: Use context to distinguish a physical point in 竹を節のところで切る from a melodic unit such as 歌の節.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Multiple readings
  • The character can also be read せつ in other contexts, but the headword reading and senses here use ふし.
• Joint and musical phrase
  • One sense divides a bamboo stem physically, while the other identifies a recognizable unit or turn of melody.