木

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 木 is read as き and is a noun for a living tree or for wood used as material.
• Basic usage: A living tree appears in 庭の木, while wood as material appears in 木を削る.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Tree and wood
  • A growing object in a garden is a tree, while material carved by an artisan is wood.
• Distinguishing the sense by context
  • Location or growth points to a tree, while a processing verb naturally points to wood as material.