種
species, kind, class, variety, seed
Readings
On'yomi
- シュ
Kun'yomi
- たね
- -ぐさ
Nanori
- おい
- くさ
- た
- ほ
Meaning
種 centers on the idea of a fundamental category or origin point: a species, kind, or class, and by extension the seed from which something grows.
Most common words using 種
24 of 425- 種たねN3
seed (e.g. of a plant); pip; kernel; stone (e.g. of a peach)
- 種類しゅるいN3
variety; kind; type; category
- 各種かくしゅN1
every kind; all sorts
- 機種きしゅN1
model (of machine, device)
- 人種じんしゅN3
race (of people)
- 一種いっしゅN3
a kind; a sort; a variety; a species
- 種族しゅぞく
race; tribe; ethnic group
- 品種ひんしゅN2
type (of goods); sort
- 車種しゃしゅ
car model
- 接種せっしゅ
inoculation; vaccination
- 種子しゅし
seed; pit
- 種別しゅべつ
classification; assortment
- 種目しゅもくN1
item; event
- 業種ぎょうしゅ
type of industry
- 職種しょくしゅ
type of occupation; occupational category
- 同種どうしゅ
same kind; same sort; same species; same race; homogeneity
- 種々しゅじゅN1
various; a variety of; all kinds of; many; diverse
- 三種さんしゅ
three kinds; three varieties
- 火種ひだね
live coals (for firelighting)
- 甲種こうしゅ
A-grade; first-class
- 菜種なたね
rapeseed; coleseed
- 予防接種よぼうせっしゅ
vaccination; inoculation; immunization; immunisation
- 種痘しゅとう
smallpox vaccination; inoculation against smallpox
- 種類豊富しゅるいほうふ
rich in variety; diverse; wide-ranging; multifarious
Study
Etymology
種 combines 禾 (grain/rice plant) with 重, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of weight or importance, suggesting the seed as the weighty, essential part of the plant.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side 禾 is a grain plant, and the right side 重 looks heavy. Picture the heavy, important seeds of the grain that carry the species forward.
Reading mnemonic
For シュ, imagine a shoe filled with seeds: shoe -> シュ, and each seed represents a different kind or species.