酵素

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 酵素 is read as こうそ and is a noun for an enzyme that facilitates chemical reactions such as digestion in living organisms.
• Basic usage: A function appears in 消化を助ける酵素, while activity under different conditions appears in 酵素の働き.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Substance and activity
  • 酵素 denotes the substance that facilitates a reaction, while 酵素の働き denotes what that substance does.
• Differences by condition
  • As in the example, activity can differ with conditions such as temperature, so experimental context states the condition.