踏み絵

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 踏み絵 is read as ふみえ and means “image made to be trampled as a test of faith” and “test of loyalty or conviction”.
• Basic usage: It denotes a historical image used to test faith and, figuratively, a question testing loyalty.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Key distinction: 忠誠を試す踏み絵
  • The first example is the historical object; 忠誠を試す踏み絵 figuratively means a test revealing conviction.