Translation guide
The act of planting seeds, both literally in agriculture and figuratively in causing future outcomes.
The literal act of scattering or planting seeds in soil.
The most common and general term for sowing seeds. Used as a noun or suru-verb (種まきをする).
春に種まきをします。
We sow seeds in spring.
種まきの時期が来た。
The time for sowing has come.
A technical or agricultural term for sowing, often used in formal or written contexts.
播種の方法を改善する。
Improve the method of sowing.
The verb phrase 'to sow seeds'. More colloquial than 播種.
畑に野菜の種をまいた。
I sowed vegetable seeds in the field.
Kanji variant of 種まき, using 蒔 (to sow). Less common but seen in older texts.
Metaphorically causing future results, often negative, by one's actions.
The same phrase as literal sowing, used figuratively. Often in set expressions like 'sow the seeds of discord'.
彼は不和の種をまいた。
He sowed the seeds of discord.
種まき is the everyday word for sowing, while 播種 is a technical term used in agriculture or formal writing. In conversation, 種まき or 種をまく is preferred.
The figurative use of 種をまく is very common in Japanese, just like in English. It often appears with negative outcomes like 混乱 (chaos) or 不和 (discord).
種蒔きの季節です。
It's the season for sowing.
That policy sowed the seeds of future chaos.
Literally 'to create a cause', used when 'sowing' means initiating a process that leads to a result.
彼の行動が問題の原因を作った。
His actions sowed the seeds of the problem.