培う|つちかうtsuchikau[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto cultivate; to foster
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 培う（つちかう） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 培います（つちかいます） |
| Negative (nai) | 培わない（つちかわない） |
| polite (masen) | 培いません（つちかいません） |
| classical zu / nu | 培わず・培わぬ（つちかわず・つちかわぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 培った（つちかった） |
| polite (mashita) | 培いました（つちかいました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 培わなかった（つちかわなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 培いませんでした（つちかいませんでした） |
| Te form | 培って（つちかって） |
| Potential | 培える（つちかえる） |
| Passive | 培われる（つちかわれる） |
| Causative | 培わせる（つちかわせる） |
| Causative passive | 培わせられる・培わされる（つちかわせられる・つちかわされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 培えば（つちかえば） |
| tara | 培ったら（つちかったら） |
| Volitional | 培おう（つちかおう） |
| polite (mashou) | 培いましょう（つちかいましょう） |
| Imperative | 培え（つちかえ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym育てるそだてるNeutralThe broadest everyday word for raising or nurturing — children, animals, plants, talent all fit. 培う is more written-style, for abilities or spirit built up over time.
- Synonym養うやしなうNeutralFocuses on supporting and feeding someone, providing for daily needs; also forming habits or storing up energy, as in 「英気を養う」.
- Synonym育むはぐくむWrittenTo nurture something with loving care, as in 「愛を育む」; tender and written-style. 培う stresses laying foundations through long accumulation.
- Synonym涵養かんようWrittenA formal written word for cultivating character or virtue gradually and imperceptibly; also recharging groundwater. Stiffer than 培う.
- Synonym養い育てるやしないそだてるNeutralFeeding and caring for someone as they grow, with the emphasis on daily care; the objects are usually children or animals. 培う is about abilities and spirit.
- Related培養ばいようNeutralMostly artificial cultivation of cells or microorganisms; also growing plants and, figuratively, building strength. Leans biological; for personal ability use 培う.
- Related育成いくせいNeutralPlanned development of talent or industries, as in 「人材育成」; policy and organizational language. 培う speaks of abilities built up by the individual.
- Related育て上げるそだてあげるNeutralRaising or training all the way to maturity or a goal — bringing up a child to adulthood, 「一流の選手に育て上げる」; stresses seeing it through to the end.
- Related栽培さいばいNeutralGrowing plants, mushrooms and the like, and by extension farmed fish in 「栽培漁業」; it is about raising living produce and is not used for abilities or spirit.
- Related錬成れんせいWrittenA written-style word for forging body and mind through hard training, as in 「錬成道場」; carries a disciplinarian, ascetic flavor. 培う is slow, gradual development.
- Antonym捨てるすてるNeutralTo throw away or give up — the opposite direction from 培う's patient long-term building up, as in abandoning something cultivated over many years.
Use 「培う」 for abilities, spirit or friendships built up through long accumulation, as in 「経験を通じて培った力」. For everyday raising or nurturing say 「育てる」; for tender, careful nurturing 「育む」; for planned talent development 「育成」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
