作る

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 作る (つくる) is a transitive verb for producing an object from material or preparing food.
• Basic usage: A small shelf is made from boards; dinner is prepared together with one's mother.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Constructing wooden furniture and preparing a meal
  • Material appears as 木の板で; co-participant as 母と. The same verb takes product 棚 and meal 夕食 as objects.