Translation guide
The act of planting seeds, both literally in agriculture and figuratively in causing future outcomes.
The literal act of scattering or planting seeds in soil.
The most common and general term for sowing seeds. Used as a noun or suru-verb (種まきをする).
Metaphorically causing future results, often negative, by one's actions.
The same phrase as literal sowing, used figuratively. Often in set expressions like 'sow the seeds of discord'.
種まき is the everyday word for sowing, while 播種 is a technical term used in agriculture or formal writing. In conversation, 種まき or 種をまく is preferred.
The figurative use of 種をまく is very common in Japanese, just like in English. It often appears with negative outcomes like 混乱 (chaos) or 不和 (discord).
春に種まきをします。
We sow seeds in spring.
The time for sowing has come.
A technical or agricultural term for sowing, often used in formal or written contexts.
Improve the method of sowing.
The verb phrase 'to sow seeds'. More colloquial than 播種.
I sowed vegetable seeds in the field.
Kanji variant of 種まき, using 蒔 (to sow). Less common but seen in older texts.
It's the season for sowing.
He sowed the seeds of discord.
That policy sowed the seeds of future chaos.
Literally 'to create a cause', used when 'sowing' means initiating a process that leads to a result.
His actions sowed the seeds of the problem.
Pattern: [noun]の種をまく. Used for 'sowing the seeds of [something]'.
Sow the seeds of doubt.