棒

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 棒 (ぼう) is a single-character noun read ぼう for a long, straight stick or rod.
• Basic usage: It can knock an object from a tree or stand upright as a marker for measuring a shadow.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Shape rather than material
  • 棒 is defined chiefly by its long narrow form, so it can refer to rods made from different materials.