Refers to a newly emerged sprout, bud, or shoot on a plant. Often used in botanical, agricultural, and figurative contexts (e.g., new growth, new beginnings).
In spring, new buds begin to appear on the trees in the garden.
The young shoots of this plant are edible.
New buds have appeared on the cherry tree's branches.
The work of picking new shoots began in the tea field.
In spring, the new shoots grow rapidly.
The trees have started to put out new buds.
新芽 is a general word for any new sprout or bud on a plant, while 木の芽 specifically refers to the young buds appearing on trees.
新芽 refers to the buds or sprouts before they open, whereas 若葉 refers to the young leaves after they have already unfurled.
発芽 refers to the act or process of germination, while 新芽 refers to the actual new bud or shoot that results from it.
新芽 can also be counted with 本 when referring to shoots as long, growing stems, but 元 is the more natural counter for a sprout/bud.
Compound of 新 (しん, 'new') and 芽 (め, 'bud, sprout'). The reading しんめ is a straightforward combination of the on'yomi of 新 and the kun'yomi of 芽.