Translation guide
How to express the concept of 'sprouting' in Japanese, covering seeds, plants, buds, and metaphorical uses.
Everyday phrase meaning 'a bud/sprout comes out'; very common in daily conversation.
やっと芽が出た。
The sprouts finally came out.
Specifically for trees and plants budding in spring; slightly poetic.
木々が芽吹き始めた。
The trees have started to bud.
Talking about visible sprouts or buds on stems, branches, or from the ground.
Literally 'to put out buds'; used for plants, potatoes, etc.
じゃがいもが芽を出した。
The potatoes have sprouted.
Noun meaning 'new shoots' or 'fresh sprouts'; often used in gardening contexts.
Bean sprouts (the food); not a verb, but a common noun for sprouted beans.
Metaphorical use for ideas, movements, or trends beginning to appear.
To bud, to sprout (feelings, ideas); commonly used for emotions like love or interest.
彼女に恋心が芽生えた。
I started to have feelings for her.
Signs of something beginning; 'to see signs of sprouting' in a figurative sense.
景気回復の兆しが見える。
We can see signs of economic recovery sprouting.
Formal noun meaning 'germination' or 'budding'; used in academic or literary contexts.
発芽する is more technical and often used in written instructions or science. 芽が出る is the casual, everyday way to say something sprouted. Use 芽が出る in conversation.
毎日水をやったら、やっと芽が出たよ。
I watered it every day, and it finally sprouted!
The loanword スプラウト (supurauto) is mainly used for edible sprouts like broccoli sprouts. It is not a general verb for sprouting.
New shoots are coming out.
Stir-fry bean sprouts.
We can see the sprouting of a new culture.