bud, shoot, sprout

JLPT N1 7 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character (yá) primarily refers to a bud or sprout on a plant. It is used to describe the early growth stage of plants, such as new leaves or shoots emerging in spring.

Common Contexts

You will often see used in natural or gardening contexts, for example when talking about trees or flowers beginning to grow new parts. It can also be used metaphorically to describe the beginning or emergence of something abstract, like hope or ideas.

Collocations and Patterns

  • (zhǎng yá): to grow buds, used for plants starting to sprout.
  • 发芽 (fā yá): to sprout or germinate, a very common verb phrase with .
  • 希望 (xīwàng zhī yá): the bud of hope, a metaphorical expression.

Notes

When using , it often appears with verbs like (grow) or (sprout). It is a noun and usually refers to physical plant buds but can be extended metaphorically. Avoid confusing with (tooth) which is a homophone but different character and meaning.

Example Sentences

Spring has arrived, and tender buds have grown on the trees.

The buds of this plant will sprout soon.

His words made the buds of my hope sprout again.