生える|はえるhaeru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto grow; to spring up; to sprout
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto cut (teeth)この子は今歯が生えかけているところです。↗This child is teething now.
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 生える（はえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 生えます（はえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 生えない（はえない） |
| polite (masen) | 生えません（はえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 生えず・生えぬ（はえず・はえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 生えた（はえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 生えました（はえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 生えなかった（はえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 生えませんでした（はえませんでした） |
| Te form | 生えて（はえて） |
| Potential | 生えられる（はえられる） |
| Passive | 生えられる（はえられる） |
| Causative | 生えさせる（はえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 生えさせられる（はえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 生えれば（はえれば） |
| tara | 生えたら（はえたら） |
| Volitional | 生えよう（はえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 生えましょう（はえましょう） |
| Imperative | 生えろ（はえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
雑草が生える
ひげを生やす
生える focuses on something appearing or growing naturally (雑草が生える), while 生やす focuses on a person actively making something grow (ひげを生やす).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym芽生えるめばえるNeutralBudding and sprouting, but also used figuratively for feelings or awareness arising; 「生える」 covers hair and plants growing.
- Synonym芽吹くめぶくNeutralTrees putting out new buds, with an emphasis on spring budding; 「生える」 is broader, covering teeth and hair too.
- Synonym萌えるもえるWrittenWritten prose for plants budding; in modern colloquial use it mostly means being infatuated, so its usage stays apart from 「生える」.
- Synonym発芽はつがWrittenSeeds germinating; a scientific-leaning term, where 「生える」 is the more everyday word.
- Synonym萌え出すもえだすWrittenStarting to bud and break through the soil; stresses the beginning, while 「生える」 stresses the growing.
- Synonym出芽しゅつがWrittenWritten and biology-leaning, for budding; in general speech one says 「芽が出る」.
- Synonym萌え出るもえでるWrittenWritten prose with a literary flavor, for young buds emerging.
- Synonym萌え立つもえたつWrittenWritten prose with a literary flavor, for new leaves coming out in fresh green.
- Antonym枯れるかれるNeutralWithering; the opposite of 「生える」 for plants growing out.
Use 「生える」 for plants, hair, and teeth growing. For seeds germinating say 「発芽」; for trees putting out spring buds 「芽吹く」; for feelings or awareness arising 「芽生える」. The 萌え- words are written or literary; 「枯れる」 is the opposite, for withering.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
