風邪

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 風邪 is read かぜ and is a noun for the common illness known as a cold.
• Basic usage: It is used for having a cold, such as when explaining an absence from school or caring for someone until recovery.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Common collocations
  • To say that someone catches a cold, use 風邪をひく; to say it gets better, use 風邪が治る.