Explore 植 in words for planting and living plants, as well as transplantation.

The idea

植 has 12 strokes; use the linked diagram for stroke order. 植える（うえる） means to plant; 植物（しょくぶつ）, 植木（うえき） and 移植（いしょく） have readings best learned as whole words.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
植えるうえるWe planted flowers in the garden.
植物しょくぶつPlease water the plants every morning.
植木うえきThere is a potted tree at the entrance.
移植いしょくThe doctor performed an organ transplant.

Examples

  • 庭にわに花はなを植うえました。We planted flowers in the garden.
  • 毎朝まいあさ、植物しょくぶつに水みずをやってください。Please water the plants every morning.
  • 入口いりぐちに植木うえきの鉢はちがあります。There is a potted tree at the entrance.
  • 道みちに沿そって木きを植うえました。They planted trees along the road.
  • 医者いしゃが臓器ぞうきの移植いしょくを行おこないました。The doctor performed an organ transplant.
  • この植物しょくぶつは日陰ひかげでよく育そだちます。This plant grows well in the shade.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

植物 is a plant, while 植木 often refers to a cultivated tree or shrub. 移植 can refer to transplanting an organ, not just a plant; do not assume one reading fits every word.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 植える in hiragana.

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    うえる

    植える is うえる: the flowers were planted in the garden. The kana える belongs to the word.

  2. Write the reading of 植物 in hiragana.

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    しょくぶつ

    植物 is しょくぶつ: the sentence asks for plants to be watered. Learn the compound as a whole.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 移＿（いしょく）［植／直］.

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    植

    植 completes 移植（いしょく）, transplantation. 直 is a different kanji despite its similar shape.

Use it today

Write 植 using the diagram, cover the table and read 植える and 植物. Then make a sentence about planting.