芽生(めば)え

めばえ
noun
sprouting, budding, beginning
1. sprouting, budding
The emergence of a plant sprout or bud from a seed or root.
春(はる)になると草木(くさき)の芽生(めば)えが見(み)られる。
In spring, you can see plants sprouting.
種(たね)から芽生(めば)えが出(で)てきた。
Sprouts emerged from the seeds.
新(あたら)しい命(いのち)の芽生(めば)えを感(かん)じる。
I feel the budding of new life.
2. beginning, awakening
The first signs or emergence of feelings, ideas, or developments (figurative).
恋(こい)の芽生(めば)えを感(かん)じた。
I felt the beginning of love.
彼(かれ)の中(なか)に正義感(せいぎかん)の芽生(めば)えがあった。
There was an awakening sense of justice within him.
子(こ)どもの好奇心(こうきしん)の芽生(めば)えを大切(たいせつ)にしたい。
I want to cherish the budding curiosity in children.

芽生(めば)え has both a literal botanical meaning (sprouting) and a widely used figurative meaning (the beginning of feelings or ideas).

RELATED VERB:
芽生(めば)える: to sprout, to bud, to begin to develop

COMMON FIGURATIVE USES:

  • 恋(こい)の芽生(めば)え: budding love
  • 希望(きぼう)の芽生(めば)え: budding hope
  • 意識(いしき)の芽生(めば)え: awakening consciousness
  • 好奇心(こうきしん)の芽生(めば)え: budding curiosity

NUANCE:
The metaphor of a delicate new sprout conveys beginnings that are fragile but full of potential. It is often used in literary and emotional contexts.

RELATED:

  • 芽(め): bud, sprout
  • 芽(め)が出(で)る: to sprout (literal); to start to succeed (figurative)
  • 新芽(しんめ): new shoot/bud
general
Added 2026.2.5 11:52 · Revised 2026.3.30 11:16
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