種(たね)

たね

noun

seed, source, material

1. seed

The unit of reproduction in plants.

花(はな)の種(たね)を蒔(ま)く。

To sow flower seeds.

ひまわりの種(たね)を食(た)べる。

To eat sunflower seeds.

庭(にわ)に野菜(やさい)の種(たね)を蒔(ま)いた。

I sowed vegetable seeds in the garden.

2. source, cause

The origin or cause of something.

悩(なや)みの種(たね)になる。

To become a source of worry.

笑(わら)いの種(たね)になった。

It became a source of laughter.

あの事件(じけん)が心配(しんぱい)の種(たね)だ。

That incident is a cause for concern.

3. material, topic

Subject matter for discussion or creation.

話(はなし)の種(たね)。

A topic of conversation.

ニュースの種(たね)を探(さが)す。

To look for news material.

旅行(りょこう)の話(はなし)がいい種(たね)になって、会話(かいわ)が弾(はず)んだ。

The travel stories made great material, and the conversation livened up.

種(たね) has both literal (seed) and figurative (source/topic) meanings.

LITERAL USES (seeds):

種(たね)を蒔(ま)く: to sow seeds
種(たね)を取(と)る: to save/harvest seeds
ひまわりの種(たね): sunflower seeds
花(はな)の種(たね): flower seeds

FIGURATIVE USES (source/cause):

話(はなし)の種(たね): topic of conversation
笑(わら)いの種(たね): source of laughter
心配(しんぱい)の種(たね): cause of worry
悩(なや)みの種(たね): source of trouble
ニュースの種(たね): news material

IDIOM:
種(たね)も仕掛(しか)けもない: no tricks (literally 'no seeds or mechanisms' - used by magicians)

RELATED:

苗(なえ): seedling (plant that has sprouted)
実(み): fruit, seed (of fruit)

general

Added 2026.1.9 21:10 · Revised 2026.3.25 21:54

02000/02157_tane