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 2026.2.22 9:04
02000/02157_tane