Japanese word

雑草

Pronunciation

Romajizassō

Meaning

  • nounweed

Example

私は庭の雑草を抜きます。watashi wa niwa no zas sō o nu ki ma su

I pull weeds from the garden.

Illustration for 雑草 (weed)

More examples

雨の後は、庭に雑草がすぐ生えます。ame no ato wa niwa ni zas sō ga su gu ha e ma su

After the rain, weeds quickly grow in the garden.

Core concept

A weed is any unwanted plant that intrudes into a managed area such as a garden or field.

Common phrases

  • 雑草を抜くzas sō o nu ku

    pull weeds

  • 雑草が生えるzas sō ga ha e ru

    weeds grow

  • 雑草を取り除くzas sō o to ri nozo ku

    remove weeds

Similar words

草kusa: A broad term for a soft-stemmed plant, whether it is wanted or unwanted.
野草yasō: A wild plant that grows without being deliberately planted or cultivated.

Definition in Japanese

庭や畑などで、目的の植物に交じって生え、抜き取られる草。niwa ya hatake na do de moku teki no shoku butsu ni ma ji tte ha e nu ki to ra re ru kusa

Word origin

The Japanese compound 雑草 (zassō) joins 雑 (zatsu, "miscellaneous") with 草 (sō, "grass") to describe grass growing among other plants.

Usage tips

  • The English word weed does not name one fixed plant species, and its meaning depends on the plant's unwanted place in a garden, field, or other managed area.

Word lists with this word