Meaning

Primary

To Grow

Alternatives

To Spring Up, To Sprout, To Come Out

Word Type

intransitive verb, ichidan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. Remember how 生きる means "to live?" Well this is what happens right after it starts to live. It begins to grow!

Reading

はえる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

When something starts to grow it also learns to laugh. Imagine a little plant growing out of the ground laughing. "Ha () ha ha ha!" it says, as it sprouts out of the ground.

Context

Common Word Combinations

  • 毛が生える

    hair grows

    木が生える

    a tree grows

    コケが生える

    moss grows

Context Sentences

この木にはキノコが生える。

Mushrooms grow on this tree.

サンタクロースには白いヒゲが生えています。

Santa Claus has a white beard.

オレゴン州には、たくさんの木が生えています。

There are many trees growing in the state of Oregon.

Kanji Composition