惜しむ

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 惜しむ is a godan transitive verb read おしむ, meaning either to regret losing something valued or to be sparing with a resource.
• Basic usage: 別れを惜しむ expresses regret at parting, while 材料を惜しまない means not sparing ingredients.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Meaning from the object
  • With 別れ, it means being sad to part; with materials, time, or effort, it concerns reluctance to expend that resource.
• Negative form 惜しまず
  • 惜しまず is a negative connective form of 惜しむ, so it means using something without stint rather than regretting it.