Meaning
The kanji 埋 (mai) primarily means 'to bury,' 'to embed,' or 'to fill up.' It describes actions like placing something within or beneath a surface, often earth, or making something full. This can range from literally burying an object to figuratively filling a space or time. This character is a phono-semantic compound, combining a semantic component that hints at its meaning with a phonetic component that suggests its sound.
Its structure clearly reveals its meaning. The left-hand radical is 土 (tsuchi), meaning 'earth' or 'soil.' This important radical directly links the kanji to actions or states related to the ground, land, or dirt. The right-hand component is 里 (sato), which typically means 'village' or 'mile,' but here it functions mainly as a phonetic element, giving the kanji its 'mai' sound. While 里 itself doesn't directly mean 'bury,' its presence guides the on'yomi pronunciation. To help remember, you might imagine a village built on reclaimed land, or treasures buried deep within a village's earth.
Therefore, the combination of 土 (earth) and 里 (a sound component hinting at 'mai') clearly illustrates the concept of placing something into or covering it with earth. This direct visual connection to soil and the act of containment makes 埋 an intuitive character once its components are understood. It has 10 strokes and is usually learned at an advanced level (JLPT N2) in Japanese education. This means it's considered a secondary school level kanji, outside the standard elementary grades.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi of 埋 comes from its historical Chinese pronunciation. It's often used in more formal or technical contexts, especially in compound words.
マイ (MAI) — This is the sole on'yomi for 埋. It's widely used in many two-kanji or multi-kanji compounds, often relating to ideas of being buried, hidden, or laid underground. It carries a more academic or official tone compared to the kun'yomi, which are used for verbs and more common expressions. Examples include:
埋没 (maibotsu) — meaning 'burial,' 'submergence,' or 'being forgotten/obscure.' This term is often used when something is completely covered or lost from view, sometimes implying a loss of recognition or talent.
埋蔵 (maizou) — meaning 'buried (treasure),' 'hidden (resources),' or 'storage.' This reading specifically refers to things that are buried or stored underground, often with an implication of value or historical significance.
埋設 (maisetsu) — meaning 'laying (pipes, cables) underground' or 'interment.' This compound is used in technical contexts when discussing the installation of infrastructure beneath the earth's surface.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi readings of 埋 are native Japanese verbs and their inflected forms, which offer various nuances for 'burying' or 'filling' in everyday language.
う.める (u.meru) — This is a transitive verb meaning 'to bury,' 'to fill (a hole/gap),' or 'to cover.' It emphasizes the action performed by someone or something to fill or cover another object.
穴を埋める (ana o umeru) — to fill a hole.
時間を埋める (jikan o umeru) — to kill time, to pass time.
う.まる (u.maru) — This is an intransitive verb, the counterpart to うめる, meaning 'to be buried,' 'to be filled,' or 'to be covered.' It describes the state of something being filled or buried.
席が埋まる (seki ga umaru) — for seats to be filled.
予定が埋まる (yotei ga umaru) — for one's schedule to be fully booked/filled.
う.もれる (u.moreru) — This is an intransitive verb meaning 'to be buried,' 'to be covered,' or 'to be forgotten/obscure.' It often implies being completely engulfed, submerged, or lost from public notice.
雪に埋れる (yuki ni umoreru) — to be buried in snow.
才能が埋れる (sainou ga umoreru) — for talent to go unnoticed or be forgotten.
うず.める (uzu.meru) — This is a transitive verb, similar to うめる, also meaning 'to bury' or 'to fill.' It often carries a connotation of covering something more deeply, completely, or sometimes with a strong emotional component.
顔を手に埋める (kao o te ni uzumeru) — to bury one's face in one's hands.
砂に体を埋める (suna ni karada o uzumeru) — to bury one's body in the sand.
うず.まる (uzu.maru) — This is an intransitive verb, meaning 'to be buried' or 'to be filled,' corresponding to うずめる. It describes the state of being deeply or completely covered.
瓦礫に埋まる (gareki ni uzumaru) — to be buried in rubble.
借金に埋まる (shakkin ni uzumaru) — to be buried in debt.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 埋 appears in many words, showing its diverse uses in both literal and figurative senses. Understanding these compounds is essential for understanding 埋.
Actions of Burying, Filling, or Covering:
- 埋める (umeru) — to bury, to fill, to cover. This is a basic transitive verb with broad usage.
- 埋め立てる (umetateru) — to reclaim land (by filling in part of the sea or lake), to fill in (a pond, etc.). This term is important in civil engineering and environmental contexts.
- 埋め込む (umekomu) — to embed, to implant, to put something deep into something else. Often used for technology or medical procedures.
- 埋葬 (maisou) — burial, interment. A formal term, typically referring to the burial of a deceased person.
- 埋却 (maikyaku) — burial, disposal by burying. Used for waste or unwanted items.
States of Being Buried or Filled, and Related Nouns:
- 埋まる (umaru) — to be buried, to be filled, to be covered. The intransitive counterpart to 埋める, describing the resulting state.
- 埋もれる (umoreru) — to be buried (often deeply or completely), to be covered, to go unnoticed, to be forgotten. This emphasizes being submerged or obscured.
- 埋立地 (umetatachi) — reclaimed land, landfill. An important geographical and urban planning term.
- 埋蔵金 (maizoukin) — buried treasure, hidden hoard. Commonly used in historical or adventurous contexts.
- 埋没林 (maibotsurin) — buried forest. A geological term for forests preserved underground.
Abstract and Figurative Uses:
- 埋め合わせ (umeawase) — compensation, making amends, making up for a loss or deficiency. A common expression in business and personal relationships.
- 埋め草 (umekusa) — filler (for conversation), stopgap, padding. Figuratively filling gaps in content or discussion.
Example Sentences
庭に穴を掘って、木を埋めました。
Niwa ni ana o hotte, ki o umemashita.
I dug a hole in the garden and buried the tree.
山奥にはまだ埋蔵金が残されているかもしれません。
Yamaoku ni wa mada maizoukin ga nokosareteiru kamo shiremasen.
There might still be buried treasure remaining deep in the mountains.
大雪で家がすっかり雪に埋れてしまった。
Ooyuki de ie ga sukkari yuki ni umorete shimatta.
The house was completely buried in snow due to the heavy snowfall.
新しい空港は海を埋め立てて作られました。
Atarashii kuukou wa umi o umetate-te tsukuraremashita.
The new airport was built by reclaiming land from the sea.
スマートフォンには小さなチップが埋め込まれています。
Sumaato fon ni wa chiisana chippu ga umekoma reteimasu.
Small chips are embedded in smartphones.
私の胸は感動でいっぱいになり、思わず涙で埋まった。
Watashi no mune wa kandou de ippai ni nari, omowazu namida de umatta.
My heart swelled with emotion, and I was overcome with tears.
彼は損失の埋め合わせとして、無料で修理をしてくれました。
Kare wa sonshitsu no umeawase to shite, muryou de shuuri o shite kuremashita.
As compensation for the loss, he repaired it for free.
彼は恥ずかしさのあまり、顔を手のひらに埋めました。
Kare wa hazukashisa no amari, kao o te no hira ni uzumemashita.
Overwhelmed with embarrassment, he buried his face in his palms.
災害で多くの家屋が土砂に埋まってしまいました。
Saigai de ooku no kaoku ga dosha ni uzumatte shimaimashita.
Many houses were buried in mud and sand due to the disaster.
Memory Tip
To remember 埋, visualize its components: 土 (earth/soil) and 里 (village). Imagine a situation where you need to 'bury' something precious, perhaps treasure, 'under the earth' (土) near your 'village' (里) so it remains safe and hidden. Or, you might think of a 'village' (里) that has become 'buried' (埋) beneath layers of 'earth' (土) after a landslide, leading to its being forgotten. The 土 radical points to the material involved, while 里 offers a phonetic hint and a visual context for burying or being buried within the landscape.