expression, godan verb (-tsu)
till a rice paddy; plow a rice paddy
Agricultural expression for preparing a rice field by tilling or plowing.
春になると、農家の人たちは田を打つ作業を始める。
When spring comes, farmers begin the work of tilling the rice paddies.
Compound of 田 (ta, 'rice paddy') + を (o, object marker) + 打つ (utsu, 'to hit, strike'), literally 'to strike the paddy', referring to the action of tilling or plowing.