Japanese word

種

Pronunciation

Romajitane

Meaning

  • nounseed

Example

庭に種をまきます。niwa ni tane o ma ki ma su

I sow seeds in the garden.

Illustration for 種 (seed)

More examples

春に花の種を植えます。haru ni hana no tane o u e ma su

I plant flower seeds in spring.

庭にまいた種が、少しずつ芽を出しています。niwa ni ma i ta tane ga suko shi zu tsu me o da shi te i ma su

The seeds sown in the garden are slowly sprouting.

Core concept

Presents a small core that can give rise to a plant, represent a type, or form the central part of something.

Common phrases

  • 種をまくtane o ma ku

    sow seeds

  • 種から育てるtane ka ra soda te ru

    grow from seed

Similar words

種子shushi: A plant structure that contains an embryo and can develop into a new plant.

Definition in Japanese

植物を生じさせるもととなる粒。また、事柄を生み出す原因や、物事の中心部分、性質による分類を表すもの。shoku butsu o shō ji sa se ru mo to to na ru tsubu ma ta koto gara o u mi da su gen in ya mono goto no chū shin bu bun sei shitsu ni yo ru bun rui o arawa su mo no

Word origin

種 (tane, "seed") is a native Japanese word in a simple, non-compound form; its plant sense extends naturally to a source, a type, and a central part.

Usage tips

  • The expression 種をまく (tane o maku) means sowing seeds and also describes starting an idea or activity that may develop later.

Other meanings

  • kindnoun
  • kernelnoun

Word lists with this word