Translation and Meaning of: 産む - umu

Have you ever thought about how a single word can carry so much meaning and history? The Japanese word 産む (うむ), which means "to give birth" or "to produce," is one of those fascinating cases. In this article, we will explore its etymology, everyday usage, and even tips for memorizing this kanji effectively. If you are studying Japanese, you may have noticed that Suki Nihongo is the largest online dictionary of the language, and here you will also find ready-made phrases to add to Anki and boost your studies.

In addition to its literal meaning, 産む has interesting nuances — ranging from the birth of a baby to the creation of ideas. Is there a connection between the act of generating life and the emergence of projects? Let's uncover all of this, including the pictogram behind the kanji and how the Japanese use this word in their daily lives. Get ready to discover curiosities that go beyond the obvious!

The origin and etymology of 産む

The kanji is composed of two radicals: (life, to be born) and (cliff, something that projects). Together, they suggest the idea of "bringing something to life" or "making something emerge." In ancient China, this character was associated not only with childbirth but also with harvest and the production of goods. It is no wonder that words like 産業 (さんぎょう) (industry) and 生産 (せいさん) (production) share the same kanji.

In the Japanese language, the verb うむ already appeared in the Manyōshū, the oldest collection of poetry in Japan, compiled in the 8th century. At that time, it was used both for the birth of children and for poetic metaphors — like "the sun producing the day." This duality between the concrete and the abstract remains to this day. Did you know that in regional dialects, such as that of Okinawa, this word takes on unique pronunciations, such as ウムン (umun)?

Everyday use and popular expressions

In modern Japan, 産む goes far beyond childbirth. Young people use this word to talk about creative projects — a designer might say 新しいデザインを産んだ (gave birth to a new design). In companies, it is common to hear アイデアを産む (generate ideas), showing how the term has adapted to the corporate world. But be careful: in medical contexts, the Japanese prefer the more technical term 出産する (しゅっさんする) to avoid ambiguities.

An interesting cultural tidbit is the pun with the word 有無 (うむ), which means "existence or not." In casual conversations, you might hear jokes like "子供を産む?うむ…" (Are you going to have kids? Hmm...), playing with the homophony. This wordplay even appears in manga and dramas, showing how the Japanese language loves these subtleties. Have you thought about creating your own sentences using this double meaning?

Tips for memorizing and writing kanji

Do you want to memorize the kanji once and for all? Imagine a scene: (life) sprouting from a (cliff), like a resilient plant that grows between the rocks. This image helps to fix the radicals. In writing, start with the top stroke of the , then write the below — as if life emerges from the base. A common mistake is to reverse the order, so repeat after me: first the cliff, then life!

To practice, how about creating flashcards with real sentences? Write down examples like 母は私を自宅で産んだ (My mother gave birth to me at home) or この土地は良いワインを産む (This region produces good wines). Associating the vocabulary with various contexts activates different areas of memory. And if you like apps, try writing the kanji in the air with your finger while pronouncing うむ out loud — the body movement reinforces learning!

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Verb conjugation of 産む

  • 産む - type 1 う-verb
  • 産まない - negative
  • I will give birth.
  • 産んだ - past
  • 産もう - potential

Synonyms and similar words

  • 生む (umu) - give birth; to bear
  • 出産する (shussan suru) - give birth; have a baby (emphasis on the act of giving birth)
  • 分娩する (bunben suru) - give birth (more technical or medical use)

Related words

産む

Romaji: umu
Kana: うむ
Type: verb
L: jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: giving birth; perform the delivery; to produce

Meaning in English: to give birth;to deliver;to produce

Definition: to give birth to a child.

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How to Write in Japanese - (産む) umu

See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (産む) umu:

Example Sentences - (産む) umu

See below some example sentences:

彼女は来年赤ちゃんを産む予定です。

Kanojo wa rainen akachan o umu yotei desu

She plans to have a baby next year.

She will have a baby next year.

  • 彼女 - means "girlfriend" or "she" in Japanese
  • は - topic particle in Japanese, indicating that "she" is the subject of the sentence
  • 来年 - means "next year" in Japanese
  • 赤ちゃん - means "baby" in Japanese
  • を - object particle in Japanese, indicating that "baby" is the object of the action
  • 産む - means "to give birth" in Japanese
  • 予定 - means "plan" or "schedule" in Japanese
  • です - verb "to be" in Japanese, indicating that the sentence is in the present tense and is affirmative

Other Words of this Type: verb

See other words from our dictionary that are also: verb

かも知れない

kamoshirenai

could it be; perhaps; possibly

傲る

ogoru

to feel proud

零す

kobosu

to spill

当てはまる

atehamaru

apply (a rule)

固める

katameru

toughen up; Freeze; fortify