紙

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 紙 is read as かみ and is a noun for paper, the thin material used for writing, drawing, or folding.
• Basic usage: Drawing on it appears in 紙に顔を描く, while folding a sheet on a desk appears in 机の上の紙を折る.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• に and を
  • Use 紙に for the surface on which writing or a drawing is placed and 紙を for paper directly acted upon by folding or cutting.
• Difference from 用紙
  • 用紙 readily means paper or a form prepared for a particular use, while 紙 broadly denotes the material or a sheet of paper.