1.
to sprout; to bud
When a plant begins to grow and produces its first shoots.
春になって、新しい芽が芽生えてきた。
Spring came and new buds began to sprout.
種をまいて三日で芽が芽生えた。
The seeds sprouted three days after sowing.
暖かくなると、庭のあちこちで草が芽生え始める。
When it gets warm, grass starts sprouting here and there in the garden.
2.
to emerge; to arise
Figuratively, when feelings, ideas, or consciousness begin to develop.
二人の間に愛情が芽生えた。
Love began to emerge between the two of them.
子供の心に正義感が芽生え始めた。
A sense of justice began to emerge in the child's heart.
海外旅行をきっかけに、異文化への興味が芽生えた。
Traveling abroad sparked an emerging interest in other cultures.
芽生える is an intransitive verb (自動詞). There is no transitive pair.
ASPECT ({ている}):
芽生えている indicates an ongoing process of sprouting or emerging.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 芽が芽生える - buds sprout
- 愛情が芽生える - love emerges
- 興味が芽生える - interest develops
- 意識が芽生える - awareness emerges
- 希望が芽生える - hope arises
NOTE:
This verb is commonly used figuratively to describe the early development of emotions, ideas, or consciousness. It carries a positive, hopeful connotation of new beginnings.