蛇口

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 蛇口 is read as じゃぐち and is a noun for a faucet or tap that opens, closes, or controls water flow at the end of a pipe.
• Basic usage: Turning on water appears in 蛇口をひねる, while replacing a faulty one appears in 水が漏れる蛇口を交換する.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The operated fixture
  • It refers to the end fixture operated to release water, not to the water itself or the entire plumbing system.
• Difference from 水道
  • 水道 broadly denotes the water supply or plumbing system, while 蛇口 is the individual fixture from which water flows.