Meaning
The kanji 畑 (hatake) refers to a field, farm, or cultivated land. Crucially, it specifically denotes a dry field for crops like vegetables, fruits, or grains, setting it apart from a wet rice paddy (田, ta). This distinction highlights the different agricultural practices prevalent in Japan.
畑 is a Kokuji (国字), a character developed in Japan rather than imported from China. Its etymology combines two existing components: 田 (ta), meaning 'field' or 'rice paddy,' and 火 (hi), meaning 'fire.' While 火 typically functions as a phonetic element in kanji, in 畑's case, it's often interpreted pictographically. A common theory suggests the 'fire' element symbolizes the historical practice of burning weeds or vegetation to clear and fertilize a dry field before planting. This visual combination of 'field' and 'fire' clearly communicates the idea of a cultivated dry field, distinct from a water-filled rice field.
Composed of 9 strokes, 畑 is taught to students in the 3rd grade of elementary school in Japan, underscoring its everyday relevance in agriculture and land-related vocabulary. Its visual form effectively conveys its meaning: a field where agricultural activity, possibly involving fire for preparation, occurs.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
As 畑 is a Kokuji (国字), a character created in Japan, it does not have a traditional Chinese-derived On'yomi reading. Its primary readings are native Japanese Kun'yomi.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kanji 畑 has two primary Kun'yomi readings, both native to Japanese:
はたけ (hatake): This is the most common reading, referring to a field or farm, specifically a dry field for crops other than rice. It can stand alone or form part of compound words.
畑 (hatake) — field, farm
野菜畑 (yasaibatake) — vegetable field/garden
The farmers worked diligently in the vegetable field.
- 麦畑 (mugibatake) — wheat field
Golden wheat fields stretched under the summer sky.
はた (hata): This reading appears when 畑 is the second element in compound words, often combining with other kanji to specify particular types of fields or land.
田畑 (tahata) — fields (general term for both rice paddies and dry fields)
He owns a vast expanse of rice paddies and dry fields.
- 茶畑 (chabatake) — tea plantation/field
Tea pickers were busy in the tea plantation.
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 畑 appears in many compounds, often related to agriculture, types of fields, and even figurative expressions. Here are some common examples:
Agriculture-related:
畑作 (hatasaku) — dry-field farming
Dry-field farming is common in this region.
- 畑地 (hatachi) — dry field land
They purchased new dry field land for cultivation.
Specific Types of Fields:
野菜畑 (yasaibatake) — vegetable field/garden
Fresh vegetables were harvested from the vegetable garden.
- 花畑 (hanabatake) — flower garden/field
The children played happily in the flower field.
- 果樹畑 (kajuubatake) — orchard (fruit tree field)
The apple orchard was full of ripe fruits.
- 茶畑 (chabatake) — tea plantation
Beautiful tea plantations spread across the hills.
- 麦畑 (mugibatake) — wheat field
The wind rustled through the golden wheat field.
- 桑畑 (kuwabatake) — mulberry field (for silkworms)
Mulberry fields are essential for sericulture.
Figurative and Idiomatic Expressions:
畑違い (hatakechigai) — out of one's field, irrelevant, not one's specialty
That topic is completely out of my field of expertise.
- 経験畑 (keikenbatake) — field of experience, area of expertise
He has a deep field of experience in programming.
- 専門畑 (senmonbatake) — one's special field/specialty
She excels in her specialized field of research.
- 油畑 (aburabatake) — oil field (archaic/literary, more common now: 油田 yuden)
The country's economy relies on its oil fields.
Example Sentences
祖父は毎日畑で野菜を育てています。
Sofu wa mainichi hatake de yasai o sodateteimasu.
My grandfather grows vegetables in the field every day.
広い麦畑が風に揺れて、とても美しい景色でした。
Hiroi mugibatake ga kaze ni yurete, totemo utsukushii keshiki deshita.
The wide wheat field swaying in the wind was a very beautiful sight.
この地域は茶畑で有名です。
Kono chiiki wa chabatake de yūmei desu.
This region is famous for its tea plantations.
彼の専門は私の畑違いなので、よく分かりません。
Kare no senmon wa watashi no hatakechigai nanode, yoku wakarimasen.
His specialty is out of my field, so I don't really understand it.
昔は水田と畑で生活を支えていました。
Mukashi wa suiden to hatake de seikatsu o sasaeteimashita.
In the past, people supported their lives with rice paddies and dry fields.
子供たちは花畑で遊び、楽しそうでした。
Kodomo-tachi wa hanabatake de asobi, tanoshisō deshita.
The children played in the flower field and seemed to be having fun.
この畑には新鮮なトマトがたくさんあります。
Kono hatake ni wa shinsen na tomato ga takusan arimasu.
There are many fresh tomatoes in this field.
彼は長年この業界の専門畑で働いてきた経験者です。
Kare wa naganen kono gyōkai no senmonbatake de hataraite kita keikensha desu.
He is an experienced person who has worked in this industry's specialized field for many years.
山の斜面には広大な果樹畑が広がっています。
Yama no shamen ni wa kōdai na kajūbatake ga hirogatteimasu.
Vast orchards spread out on the mountain slopes.
Memory Tip
To remember the kanji 畑, envision a 'field' (田) prepared for planting by 'fire' (火). Picture farmers burning off stubble or weeds in a dry field to clear it and replenish the soil's nutrients. This image of 'fire' in a 'field' clearly differentiates 畑 (dry field) from 田 (wet rice paddy). Alternatively, consider a dry field looking parched, almost 'on fire' from the intense sun, signaling its need for cultivation. Both mental images directly link the components to the meaning, solidifying that 畑 specifically denotes cultivated, non-paddy land.