育てる

• Reading: そだてる
• Romaji: sodateru
• Kanji breakdown: 育 (iku/soda) — raise, nurture, bring up
• Pronunciation: /so.da.te.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To raise; to rear; to bring up. Used for children, plants, and developing talent.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. Pairs with the intransitive 育つ (sodatsu). Used broadly: 子どもを育てる (raise a child), 花を育てる (grow flowers), 人材を育てる (develop talent). Conjugates by dropping る and adding the appropriate ending.

Examples

1. 母は一人で三人の子どもを育てました。 My mother raised three children on her own.
2. 庭でトマトを育てています。 I'm growing tomatoes in the garden.
3. 若い社員を育てるのも上司の仕事だ。 Developing young employees is also a manager's job.

Usage Guide

Context: family, gardening, education

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the kanji 育 (iku/soda) meaning nurture and raise. The kanji depicts a child being born, symbolising growth and care.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal