茶

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 茶 is read as ちゃ and is a noun for tea leaves or the drink made by infusing them.
• Basic usage: Drinking warm tea appears in 温かい茶を飲む, while referring to a tea canister appears in 茶の缶.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Distinction from お茶
  • 茶 names tea itself and appears in compounds such as 茶の缶, whereas お茶 is the common polite everyday form.