箸置き

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 箸置き is read as はしおき and is a chopstick rest that keeps the tips of chopsticks off the table during a meal.
• Basic usage: Setting out one per person appears in 人数分の箸置きを並べる, while describing its shape appears in 魚の形をした箸置き.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Rest placed on the table
  • It is not the chopsticks themselves but a small table item on which they are placed when not in use.
• Difference from 箸
  • 箸 are the chopsticks used to pick up food, while 箸置き is the support on which those chopsticks rest.