模様

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 模様 is read as もよう and is either a decorative pattern or an indication that circumstances are likely to develop in a certain way.
• Basic usage: Use 葉の模様 for a leaf pattern and 早く終わる模様だ for an indication that something will end early.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Distinction between 模様 and 柄
  • The headword can mean either a visual pattern or an indication of how events will unfold, while the comparison term chiefly means a decorative design on fabric or an object.