育つ

• Reading: そだつ
• Romaji: sodatsu
• Kanji breakdown: 育 (iku/soda) — raise, nurture, grow up
• Pronunciation: /so.da.tsɯ/

Meaning

To be raised; to grow up. Describes the natural process of growing or being brought up.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb conjugating with the つ row. Pairs with the transitive 育てる (sodateru). Used for children growing up (子どもが育つ), plants growing (木が育つ), and skills developing naturally.

Examples

1. 私は東京で育ちました。 I grew up in Tokyo.
2. この木は日当たりのいい場所でよく育つ。 This tree grows well in a sunny spot.
3. 温かい家庭で育った子どもは明るい。 Children raised in a warm family tend to be cheerful.

Usage Guide

Context: family, nature, personal history

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Shares the kanji 育 with 育てる. The intransitive form emphasises the subject's own growth rather than an external agent's action.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal