Translation and Meaning of: 蒔く - maku

The Japanese word 「蒔く」 (maku) is a verb that translates to "to sow" or "to plant." This word is often used in the context of agriculture and gardening, referring to the action of scattering seeds over the soil. The etymology of the verb 「蒔く」 is rooted in the ancient Japanese language, where it was already used to describe this agricultural practice essential for the cultivation of food and flowers.

The kanji 「蒔」 is composed of two main radicals: 「艹」, which represents plants or herbs, and 「時」, which means time. This combination suggests the vital relationship between planting and time, highlighting the importance of natural rhythms and seasons for the success of harvests. By using 「蒔く」, there is a connotation of the wisdom and patience needed to cultivate the land properly, as planting is just the beginning of a process that requires care and attention to thrive.

In everyday life, the verb 「蒔く」 can be found in various grammatical forms and contexts. For example, the phrase in the ます form (polite form), 「蒔きます」 (makimasu), is often used in formal situations or in more polite conversations, especially when discussing gardening in a respectful way. Other verbal forms, such as the past 「蒔いた」 (maita) or the negative 「蒔かない」 (makanai), can be used to describe past actions or future intentions of not planting, respectively.

Historically, the role of sowing held a profound cultural significance in Japan, associated not only with the physical act of planting seeds but also with social and spiritual values. In the past, Japanese agrarian communities celebrated seasonal festivals as a thank you to nature, and the beginning of sowing was a moment of hope and expectations for the new harvest. This historical and cultural context reinforces the relevance of the word 「蒔く」 in expressing the connection between human beings and the land.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 播く (maku) - Sow or spread seeds.

蒔く

Romaji: maku
Kana: まく
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n2

Translation / Meaning: to sow (seeds)

Meaning in English: to sow (seeds)

Definition: Sprinkle seeds or seeds in the soil or in the water.

Example Sentences - (蒔く) maku

See below some example sentences:

私は庭に花を蒔きました。

Watashi wa niwa ni hana o makimashita

I planted flowers in the garden.

I sown flowers in the garden.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 庭 (niwa) - noun that means "garden"
• に (ni) - locative particle that indicates where the action occurred
• 花 (hana) - noun meaning "flower"
• を (wo) - object particle indicating the direct object of the action
• 蒔きました (makimashita) - verb that means "I planted"

私は庭に花の種を散蒔きました。

Watashi wa niwa ni hana no tane wo chiramikimashita

I scattered flower seeds in the garden.

I sowed flowers in the garden.

• 私 - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 庭 - noun that means "garden"
• に - locative particle that indicates where something happened
• 花 - noun that means "flowers"
• の - possessive particle that indicates that the flowers belong to the garden
• 種 - noun that means "seeds"
• を - object particle that indicates that the seeds have been scattered
• 散蒔きました - verb that means "to scatter seeds"