Translation guide
The English verb 'sow' has two main meanings: planting seeds and spreading something (often negative) that grows over time. This guide covers natural Japanese expressions for each, from literal farming to figurative use.
To put seeds in the ground so they will grow.
sow seeds · sow wheat · sow in spring
The most common and natural way to say 'sow seeds'. Literally 'scatter seeds'. Used for both literal and figurative contexts.
I sow vegetable seeds in spring.
Noun form meaning 'seed sowing'. Often used for the activity or season of sowing.
Sowing is done in autumn.
Single kanji verb specifically for sowing seeds. More technical or literary. Often written in hiragana as まく.
Sow wheat in the field.
To cause something like doubt, fear, or discord to spread and develop.
sow doubt · sow discord · sow confusion
Figurative extension of 'sow seeds'. Used with abstract nouns like doubt, discord, etc. Very natural and common.
His words sowed seeds of doubt.
The rumor sowed seeds of anxiety among the people.
General verb meaning 'to spread' (information, feelings, etc.). Less vivid than the seed metaphor but widely used.
Literally 'scatter around'. Can be used for spreading things like money, propaganda, or discord, often with a negative nuance of indiscriminate scattering.
種をまく (sow seeds) is for scattering small seeds. 植える (うえる) means 'to plant' seedlings or larger plants. Don't use 植える for sowing seeds.
Plant rice seedlings.
The noun 'sow' (female pig) is 雌豚 (めぶた) in Japanese. Do not confuse the verb with this noun.
彼は悪意のある噂を広めた。
He sowed malicious rumors.
政府は補助金をばらまいた。
The government sowed subsidies (handed out money indiscriminately).