薹が立つ · godan verb (-tsu)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | 薹が立つ | 薹が立たない |
| Polite | 薹が立ちます | 薹が立ちません |
| Past polite | 薹が立ちました | 薹が立ちませんでした |
| Past | 薹が立った | 薹が立たなかった |
| Te-form | 薹が立って | 薹が立たないで |
| Desire | 薹が立ちたい | 薹が立ちたくない |
| Potential | 薹が立てる | 薹が立てない |
| Passive | 薹が立たれる | 薹が立たれない |
| Causative | 薹が立たせる | 薹が立たせない |
| Causative passive | 薹が立たせられるalso 薹が立たされる | 薹が立たせられないalso 薹が立たされない |
| Volitional | 薹が立とう | |
| Polite volitional | 薹が立ちましょう | |
| Imperative | 薹が立て | 薹が立つな |
| Conditional | 薹が立てば | 薹が立たなければ |
| Tara conditional | 薹が立ったら | 薹が立たなかったら |
go to seed; become tough and fibrous
Literally describes vegetables (especially leafy greens like spinach or rapeseed) that have bolted and become too tough to eat. Used for plants that have passed their edible stage.
Spinach becomes stringy when it goes to seed.
be past one's prime; lose the bloom of youth
Figurative extension of the plant sense, applied to people (especially women) who are considered past the peak of youth or beauty. Can be seen as dated or mildly sexist in modern usage.
She's still young, but she says she hates being told she's past her prime.