Japanese word

苗

Pronunciation

Romajinae

Meaning

  • nounseedling

Example

この苗は元気です。ko no nae wa gen ki de su

This seedling is healthy.

Illustration for 苗 (seedling)

More examples

ベランダで野菜の苗を育てています。be ra n da de ya sai no nae o soda te te i ma su

I am growing vegetable seedlings on my balcony.

Core concept

Refers to a young plant raised to grow into a mature plant, often before it is moved to its intended place.

Common phrases

  • 苗を育てるnae o soda te ru

    raise seedlings

  • 苗を植え替えるnae o u e ka e ru

    transplant seedlings

  • 苗を植えるnae o u e ru

    plant seedlings

Definition in Japanese

植え付けるために育てた若い植物。u e tsu ke ru ta me ni soda te ta waka i shoku butsu

Word origin

苗 (nae, "seedling") is a native Japanese noun, and its written form uses 苗 (nae, "young plant"), a character with the same plant-related sense in Chinese.

Usage tips

  • Garden shops often label small potted plants as 苗 (nae), making the word useful when discussing what to grow at home.

Other meanings

  • young plantnoun

Opposites

  • 成木narikimature treenoun

Word lists with this word