田植(たう)え

たうえ
noun
rice planting
workculture
1. rice planting; transplanting rice seedlings into a paddy
The agricultural work of transplanting young rice plants from a nursery bed into a flooded paddy field, typically done in late spring to early summer.
田植(たう)えの季節(きせつ)になった。
It's become the rice-planting season.
子(こ)どもたちが田植(たう)えを体験(たいけん)した。
The children experienced rice planting.
今年(ことし)は天候不順(てんこうふじゅん)で田植(たう)えが遅(おく)れている地域(ちいき)もある。
This year, there are regions where rice planting has been delayed due to bad weather.

Refers specifically to the transplanting of rice seedlings (苗(なえ)) into a flooded paddy field (田(た)んぼ). Traditionally done by hand, now largely mechanized with rice-planting machines (田植(たう)え機(き)). The rice-planting season is typically May to June in most of Japan and is closely tied to seasonal awareness in Japanese culture.

Common collocations

  • 田植(たう)え機(き): rice-planting machine
  • 田植(たう)えの時期(じき): rice-planting season
  • 田植(たう)えをする: to plant rice
  • 手(て)植(う)え: hand-planting (of rice)

Cultural note

田植(たう)え has traditionally been accompanied by rituals and festivals. 御田植祭(おたうえまつり) (rice-planting festivals) are still held at many shrines. School field trips to rice paddies for 田植(たう)え体験(たいけん) (rice-planting experience) are common in Japanese elementary education.