植える

• Reading: うえる
• Romaji: ueru
• Kanji breakdown: 植 (shoku/u) — plant, grow
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.e.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To plant; to grow. The act of putting seeds, seedlings, or plants into soil.

A Group 2 (ichidan) transitive verb. The intransitive counterpart does not exist as a standard verb — instead, 植わる (uwaru) is occasionally used. Common in contexts like gardening, agriculture, and tree-planting events. Often paired with 木 (trees), 花 (flowers), or 種 (seeds).

Examples

1. 庭にチューリップの花を植えました。 I planted tulips in the garden.
2. 春になったら野菜の種を植えるつもりです。 I'm planning to plant vegetable seeds when spring comes.
3. 公園に新しい木を植える活動に参加した。 I joined an activity to plant new trees in the park.

Usage Guide

Context: gardening, agriculture, nature

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 植 combines 木 (tree) with 直 (straight/upright). Depicts placing a tree upright in the ground — the core meaning of planting.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal