汚点

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 汚点 (おてん) combines dirt 汚 and mark 点 to form a figurative stain on a record or reputation.
• Basic usage: It denotes a failure, wrongdoing, or incident regarded as a blot on a life or history.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A figurative blemish
  • In 人生の汚点 or 歴史に汚点を残す, the stain is reputational or historical rather than a physical spot.