seedling; sapling; young tree
Refers to a young tree grown from seed, typically before it reaches maturity. Used in gardening, forestry, and everyday contexts.
I planted a cherry sapling in the garden.
This young tree doesn't bear fruit yet.
I planted a cherry sapling in the garden.
I am carefully raising the sapling.
Saplings are grown in a nursery field.
苗 is the general term for a young plant or seedling (e.g. rice, vegetables), whereas 苗木 refers specifically to a young tree.
種 is an unsprouted seed, while 苗木 is the young tree that has already grown from a seed.
origin; source; beginning · basis; base; foundation; root · cause; source of trouble · ingredient; base; mix; stock · one's side; one's place; near someone · capital; principal; cost price · base of a plant; root; tree trunk · part held in the hand; handle end · first three lines of a waka · counter for plants or trees · counter for falcons
Compound of 苗 (なえ, 'seedling, young plant') and 木 (き, 'tree'). The reading なえぎ is a straightforward combination of the kun'yomi readings of the two kanji.