草原

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 草原 is read as そうげん and is a noun for a broad grassland or meadow dominated by grasses.
• Basic usage: Use 草原を走る for movement across it and 草原が広がる when the grassland itself spreads into view.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Route and subject
  • を marks the area crossed by the horses, while が makes the meadow the subject appearing before the viewer.
• Contrast with 芝生
  • 芝生 readily means a maintained lawn in a garden or park, while 草原 is an extensive grassy landscape.