生まれ・生れ|うまれumare[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Which spelling to use
生まれ生まれ is the most common written form and the recommended default for beginners. It is written with kanji and kana and covers the senses in this entry.
生れ生れ is a less common alternative written with kanji and kana. Learners should recognize it, but use 生まれ when choosing a spelling.
Definitions
  1. nounbirth; birthplace
    私は生うまれも育そだちも東京とうきょうだ。↗
    I was born and raised in Tokyo.
  2. noun (suffix), no-adjectiveborn in (country, month, imperial era, zodiac year, etc.)
Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym誕生たんじょうNeutralRefers to the event of being born, and also to the birth of new things, as in 「新記録誕生」; 「生まれ」 leans toward birthplace, birth year, or background.
  • Synonym出生しゅっしょうWrittenWritten/formal prose for official contexts like family registers and statistics, as in 「出生届」 and 「出生率」; 「生まれ」 is more colloquial and often follows a place name or year.
  • Synonym生誕せいたんFormalA solemn term for the birth of famous or great figures and for commemorative occasions, as in 「生誕百年」; 「生まれ」 is the ordinary word for birth and background.
  • Synonym出身地しゅっしんちNeutralRefers to the place one was born and raised, somewhat formal; 「生まれ」 is more colloquial.
  • Synonym素性すじょうNeutralRefers to a person's origins or true identity, often with a questioning nuance, as in 「素性の知れない男」; 「生まれ」 centers on birthplace and birth year.
  • SynonymふるさとNeutralCarries emotional color, meaning one's hometown; 「生まれ」 states the birthplace objectively.
  • Synonym出自しゅつじWrittenWritten/formal prose for one's origins and lineage, as in 「出自を明かす」; 「生まれ」 is more colloquial.
  • Related素性すじょうNeutralRefers to a person's origins or true identity, often with a questioning nuance, as in 「素性の知れない男」; 「生まれ」 centers on birthplace and birth year.
  • Related毛並みけなみNeutralLiterally an animal's coat; figuratively a person's breeding or pedigree, as in 「毛並みがいい」; 「生まれ」 is more neutral.
  • Related出所しゅっしょNeutralAlso means the moment to appear or an exit; seldom used for where a person was born — for someone's birthplace use 「生まれ」 or 「出身」.
  • Related身元みもとNeutralRefers to identity and background, mostly in 「身元確認」 and 「身元不明」; 「生まれ」 centers on birthplace.
  • Related系統けいとうNeutralCovers bloodline and descent but also systems and schools; 「生まれ」 concerns an individual's birth.
  • Related家系かけいNeutralRefers to a family line of descent, as in 「医者の家系」; 「生まれ」 is about the individual.
  • Related生年月日せいねんがっぴNeutralSpecifically the date of birth, mostly on forms; 「生まれ」 attaches to a year as in 「〜年生まれ」.
  • Related系譜けいふWrittenWritten/formal prose for genealogies and pedigrees, also figuratively for a school's lineage; 「生まれ」 concerns personal origins.
  • Related血統けっとうNeutralRefers to bloodline, often for distinguished families or purebred animals; 「生まれ」 is broader.
  • Related家柄いえがらNeutralRefers to a family's social standing, as in 「家柄がいい」; 「生まれ」 is more neutral.
  • Related血筋ちすじNeutralRefers to blood ties or lineage, as in 「芸術家の血筋」; 「生まれ」 centers on birthplace.
  • Related家筋いえすじWrittenWritten/formal prose for a family's bloodline passed down through generations; in daily speech use 「家系」 or 「血筋」.
  • Related故郷こきょうNeutralCarries emotional color, meaning one's hometown; 「生まれ」 states the birthplace objectively.
  • Related氏素性うじすじょうWrittenWritten/formal prose stressing family standing, mostly in 「氏素性も知れない」; in everyday speech use 「生まれ」 or 「家柄」.
  • Related降誕こうたんWrittenReserved for the birth of saints, high priests, and monarchs, with a solemn religious tone, as in 「キリストの降誕」; 「生まれ」 is the ordinary word and applies to anyone.
  • Related出どころでどころNeutralRefers to the source of things like news or money; it overlaps with 「生まれ」 only in the sense of where someone comes from.
  • Related門地もんちWrittenWritten/formal prose for family standing; in everyday speech use 「家柄」.
  • Antonym死しNeutralThe opposite of 「生まれ」 in the birth-versus-death contrast: it means death.
  • Antonym滅びWrittenWritten/formal prose; the opposite of 「生まれ」 in the rise-and-fall sense, meaning ruin or perishing.

Use 「生まれ」 for birthplace, birth year, or background, as in 「東京生まれ」. For the event of being born, 「誕生」 is the usual choice; in formal contexts like statistics and family registers use 「出生」, and for the births of famous figures 「生誕」. For family standing say 「家柄」 or 「血筋」, and for someone's origins or identity 「素性」 or 「身元」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 生うまれること。
  2. 生うまれた土地とち。
  3. 生うまれた家柄いえがら。
  4. うまれるの未然みぜん・連用形れんようけい。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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