稲作(いなさく)

稲作(いなさく) refers to rice cultivation — specifically wet-rice farming in paddies (水田(すいでん)). A compound of 稲(いな) (rice plant) + 作(さく) (cultivation).

Related words

• 田(た)んぼ / 水田(すいでん): rice paddy
• 稲(いね): rice plant (while growing)
• 米(こめ): rice (harvested grain)
• 田植(たう)え: rice planting (transplanting seedlings)
• 稲刈(いねか)り: rice harvesting

Common collocations

• 稲作(いなさく)に適(てき)する: to be suitable for rice cultivation
• 稲作(いなさく)農家(のうか): rice farmer
• 稲作(いなさく)地帯(ちたい): rice-growing region

Cultural note

Rice farming has been central to Japanese culture and economy since it arrived around 300 BCE. Many Japanese festivals (祭(まつ)り) and customs are tied to the rice-growing cycle. The word is commonly encountered in geography, history, and social studies contexts.