育む|はぐくむhagukumu[3]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto raise; to bring up; to rear
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto cultivate; to foster; to nurture
    スポーツは友情ゆうじょうをはぐくむものだ。↗
    Sports nurture friendships.
Conjugation
Dictionary form育む(はぐくむ)
Polite (masu)育みます(はぐくみます)
Negative (nai)育まない(はぐくまない)
polite (masen)育みません(はぐくみません)
classical zu / nu育まず・育まぬ(はぐくまず・はぐくまぬ)
Past (ta)育んだ(はぐくんだ)
polite (mashita)育みました(はぐくみました)
Past negative (nakatta)育まなかった(はぐくまなかった)
polite (masen deshita)育みませんでした(はぐくみませんでした)
Te form育んで(はぐくんで)
Potential育める(はぐくめる)
Passive育まれる(はぐくまれる)
Causative育ませる(はぐくませる)
Causative passive育ませられる・育まされる(はぐくませられる・はぐくまされる)
Conditional (ba)育めば(はぐくめば)
tara育んだら(はぐくんだら)
Volitional育もう(はぐくもう)
polite (mashou)育みましょう(はぐくみましょう)
Imperative育め(はぐくめ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym育てるそだてるNeutralThe everyday word for raising people, animals or plants; 育む is more literary and favors abstract objects like 「愛を育む」.
  • Synonym培うつちかうNeutralBuilds up abilities or virtues, as in 「力を培う」; its literal sense is tending plants by banking soil around them, while 「育む」 leans toward feelings, culture and nature.
  • Related育成いくせいNeutralA noun for developing talent or athletes in an organized way, as in 「人材育成」; it suggests systematic training rather than tender care.
  • Related育て上げるそだてあげるNeutralBrings a child all the way to adulthood; it stresses the end result of raising to maturity rather than the ongoing care.
  • Related保育ほいくNeutralCare and rearing of infants and young children, as in 「保育園」 and 「保育士」; tied to childcare settings rather than nurturing in general.
  • Related扶養ふようWrittenA written term for financially supporting dependents; it stresses the economic duty of support rather than nurturing itself.
  • Related養育よういくWrittenA written word for bringing up children; it stresses the responsibility of rearing rather than 育む's tender cultivation.
  • Related養うやしなうNeutralFor material support: providing for a family as in 「家族を養う」, or building stamina; it lacks 育む's sense of tenderly nurturing feelings.
  • Related養い育てるやしないそだてるWrittenA written, explanatory phrase for feeding and raising the young; rare outside formal prose.
  • Antonym虐げるしいたげるWrittenA written word for oppressing or treating someone cruelly; the direct opposite of 育む's loving care.
  • Antonym疎むうとむWrittenTo shun or cold-shoulder someone; the opposite of the cherishing care expressed by 育む.

In written style, 「育む」 is for tenderly nurturing feelings, culture or nature, as in 「愛を育む」 and 「自然が育んだ」. For everyday raising use 「育てる」, for developing talent 「育成」, for building ability 「培う」; 「虐げる」 is the opposite.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 親おやの鳥とりが羽はねの下したに雛ひなを入いれて育そだてる。
  2. 大切たいせつに養育よういくする。
  3. 慈いつくしみ、守まもる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

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