生む

• Reading: うむ
• Romaji: umu
• Kanji breakdown: 生 (sei/shou/u) — life, birth, raw
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.mɯ/

Meaning

To give birth; to produce; to create. Used for bringing new things into existence.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb conjugated with the む row. Core meanings include giving birth to a child (子供を生む), laying eggs (卵を生む), producing results (成果を生む), and creating something new (新しい文化を生む). Often used figuratively for generating profit (利益を生む) or breeding conflict (争いを生む). The kanji 産む is used specifically for childbirth and laying eggs.

Examples

1. 姉は先月元気な男の子を生んだ。 My older sister gave birth to a healthy baby boy last month.
2. この政策は多くの問題を生んでいる。 This policy is creating a lot of problems.
3. 新しい技術が新しいビジネスを生む。 New technology gives rise to new business.

Usage Guide

Context: family, society, business

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 生 represents life and growth, depicting a plant sprouting from the ground. One of the most fundamental kanji in the language.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal