苗
nae
The Japanese word for "seedling" is 苗 (nae).
The word 苗 is used both for the biological seedling and for the plants themselves when they are being sold in a nursery or market.
Meaning: young plant grown from seed (noun)
Which one should you use?
The term 苗木 is often used specifically for tree seedlings in formal horticultural and forestry contexts.
How do you pronounce it?
nae
Did you know?
- During the traditional rice-planting season, the act of transplanting 苗 is a community event known as 田植え, which is often accompanied by specific folk songs to keep the workers in rhythm.
- In Japanese culture, 苗 is often used metaphorically to describe a person's early potential or the 'seedling' stage of a new business or idea.
- The word 苗 shares a linguistic pattern with the words for 'god' 神 and 'eye' 目, which also shift their sounds in compound forms.
Examples in context
- 何種類の野菜の苗を育てていますか？How many types of vegetable seedlings are you growing?
- 彼は庭に新しい苗木を植えました。He planted new tree seedlings in the garden.
- 苗を植えるTo plant seedlings
- 苗を植える。Nae o ueru.Plant the seedlings.
- この苗はとても元気です。Kono nae wa totemo genki desu.This seedling is very healthy.
- 苗をどこで買いましたか？Nae o doko de kaimashita ka?Where did you buy the seedlings?
Example conversation
Misaki and Hiroto are working in a garden.
- 美咲 Misakiこの苗を植えましょう。Kono nae o uemashou.Let's plant this seedling.
- 大翔 Hirotoはい、美咲さん。準備はいいですか？Hai, Misaki-san. Junbi wa ii desu ka?Yes, Misaki. Are you ready?
- 美咲 Misaki大丈夫です。大翔くん、手伝って。Daijoubu desu. Hiroto-kun, tetsudatte.I'm fine. Hiroto, help me.
- 大翔 Hirotoわかりました。すぐにやります。Wakarimashita. Sugu ni yarimasu.I understand. I'll do it right away.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 苗, CC BY-SA 4.0.
