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Kotomora

芽

bud, sprout, spear, germ

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 4FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes8

Readings

On'yomi

  • ガ

Kun'yomi

  • め

Nanori

  • じ
  • めぐ

Meaning

芽 centers on the early stage of plant growth: a bud, sprout, or germ. The spear sense is a narrow application referring to a pointed young shoot.

Most common words using 芽

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Etymology

芽 combines 艹 (grass/plant) with 牙, which likely contributes the sound and may suggest a pointed shape like a tusk or tooth, fitting the image of a sprout breaking through.

Meaning mnemonic

The plant top 艹 sits above 牙, which looks like a tusk poking up. Picture a tiny sprout pushing through the soil like a sharp tusk emerging.

Reading mnemonic

For ガ, imagine a gardener gasping with delight when the first bud appears: gasp -> ガ, and the sprout breaks through the ground.