魚

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 魚 is read as さかな and is a noun for a fish as a living animal or for fish prepared as food.
• Basic usage: Small fish swimming in a river appear in 小さな魚が泳ぐ, while grilling and eating fish appears in 魚を焼いて食べる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A living animal and food
  • When it swims or inhabits water it means a living fish; when it is grilled or eaten it means fish as food.
• Difference from 魚介類
  • Unlike the broader term that includes shellfish and other aquatic foods as well as fish, this word primarily denotes fish.