Translation and Meaning of: 生まれ - umare

If you are studying Japanese, you may have come across the word 生まれ (うまれ), which means "birth" or "place of birth." But do you know how it is used in everyday life or why the kanji 生 appears in it? In this article, in addition to exploring the etymology and meaning, we will see how this word appears in common expressions and even in jokes that the Japanese love. And if you use Anki to memorize vocabulary, don’t worry: by the end, you will have practical examples to include in your flashcards.

Origin and etymology of 生まれ

The word 生まれ comes from the verb 生まれる (うまれる), which means "to be born." The kanji 生 alone conveys the idea of life, growth, and origin, making it one of the most versatile in Japanese. Interestingly, it also appears in words like 人生 (じんせい - human life) and 生鮮 (せいせん - fresh food), always maintaining that connection with vitality.

The suffix れ in 生まれ transforms the verb into a noun, indicating the act or place of birth. It’s similar to how we have "nascimento" derived from "nascer" in Portuguese. This structure is common in other words, such as 暮れ (くれ - dusk, derived from 暮れる). If you’ve ever wondered why some verbs become nouns this way, now you have the answer!

Everyday lies and curiosities

In Japan, asking 生まれはどこですか？ (うまれはどこですか？) is a polite way to inquire about someone's origin. Unlike Portuguese, where "where were you born?" might sound too direct, Japanese people use this expression naturally in conversations. I have heard accounts of Brazilians who were surprised when asked this on the first date – it's cultural!

An amusing fact: since 生まれ is related to beginnings, it appears in wordplays like 生まれ変わる (うまれかわる - reincarnate), used both literally and to joke about changes in habits. There's a Japanese meme that shows a lazy cat saying "今日から生まれ変わる！" (From today on, I will reinvent myself!), only to be sleeping again in the next frame. Who hasn't, right?

Tips for memorization and related searches

If you want to memorize 生まれ, associate the kanji 生 with something that is born – imagine a plant sprouting from the soil. One of my students memorized it by creating the phrase "生まれた時、生まれた場所" (at the moment I was born, the place where I was born), linking the two main meanings. It worked so well that she never forgot it again!

No Google, frequent searches include "生まれ difference for 出身" (since 出身しゅっしん refers more to one's birthplace) and "生まれを使う例文" (examples of sentences with 生まれ). If you had these doubts too, try using the word in real contexts: write in your Japanese diary "私の生まれは…" and complete it with your hometown. Applying vocabulary is always the best way to learn.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 誕生 (tanshou) - Birth generally refers to the act of being born or the arrival of someone in the world.
• 出生 (shussee) - Birth, emphasizing the origin or the moment when someone is born.
• 降誕 (koutan) - Birth, often used in religious contexts, such as the birth of a deity.

生まれ

Romaji: umare
Kana: うまれ
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: birth; birthplace

Meaning in English: birth;birth-place

Definition: To receive a new life.

Example Sentences - (生まれ) umare

See below some example sentences:

私は日本で生まれました。

Watashi wa Nihon de umaremashita

I was born in Japan.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• 日本 (nihon) - proper name meaning "Japan"
• で (de) - particle indicating the place where the action took place
• 生まれました (umaremashita) - verb meaning "to be born" in the educated past

私たちは使命を果たすために生まれてきた。

Watashitachi wa shimei o hatasu tame ni umarete kita

We were born to fulfill our mission.

• 私たちは - 「私たち」
• 使命 - "Mission" in Japanese
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 果たす - "Comply" in Japanese
• ために - "To" in Japanese
• 生まれてきた - "We were born" in Japanese

私たちは人生を享受するために生まれてきた。

Watashitachi wa jinsei wo kyouju suru tame ni umarete kita

We were born to enjoy life.

• 私たちは - 私たち
• 人生 - "Life" in Japanese
• を - Direct Object Particle in Japanese
• 享受する - "enjoy" in Japanese
• ために - "To" in Japanese
• 生まれてきた - "We were born" in Japanese

私の生年月日は何ですか？

Watashi no seinen gappi wa nan desu ka?

What is my date of birth?

What is my date of birth?

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• の - Japanese particle that indicates possession or relationship
• 生年月日 - Japanese compound noun meaning "date of birth"
• は - Japanese particle indicating the subject of the sentence
• 何 - Japanese interrogative pronoun meaning "what"
• ですか - Japanese expression indicating a polite question