畑はたけ

noun

field; cultivated land; vegetable plot

Refers to dry fields for crops like wheat, vegetables, or fruit, as opposed to flooded rice paddies (田). Also used for kitchen gardens and small plots.

• 祖そ父ふは畑はたけでトマトを作つくっている。

  My grandfather grows tomatoes in his field.

• 家いえの裏うらに小ちいさな畑はたけがあります。

  There is a small vegetable plot behind the house.

noun, noun, used as a suffix

field (of specialization); area; line of work

Only with reading はたけ

Metaphorical extension of the farming sense. Often used as a suffix 〜畑 (read ばたけ) to indicate a professional domain, e.g., 法律畑 (the legal field).

• 彼かれは長なが年ねん、教きょう育いく畑ばたけで働はたらいてきた。

  He has worked in the field of education for many years.

• 私わたしは技ぎ術じゅつ畑ばたけの人にん間げんなので、法ほう律りつのことはよくわかりません。

  I'm a tech person, so I don't know much about legal matters.

noun

womb; birthplace; origin

Only with reading はたけ

Colloquial, somewhat old-fashioned metaphor for the womb or one's birthplace. Often used in phrases like 畑が違う (to be of different origin/background).

• 彼かれとは育そだった畑はたけが違ちがうから、考かんがえ方かたも違ちがう。

  We come from different backgrounds, so our ways of thinking differ.

• あの人ひとは政せい治じ家かの畑はたけから出でてきた。

  He comes from a political background.