Meaning
The kanji 育 (iku) means 'to grow,' 'to raise,' and 'to nurture.' It describes how living things develop, whether it's a child maturing, plants thriving, or skills and relationships evolving. This kanji covers both the natural process of growing and the effort involved in helping something develop.
Looking at the kanji's historical visual structure offers fascinating insights. It's thought to show a child (子, ko) upside down, perhaps within an enclosure or an older form of the 'flesh' radical (肉, niku, in its variant ⺼). This image beautifully represents birth and early development, highlighting the care and environment needed for new life to flourish. The top part even resembles a cradle or an open mouth, further emphasizing nurturing and feeding. This strong visual link makes 育 easy to grasp: it's all about guiding something toward maturity and supporting its journey.
The kanji 育 has 8 strokes. Japanese elementary students learn it in the 3rd grade, making it a common and important character for daily use. Its radical is ⺼, which functions as the 'flesh' radical when positioned on the left side of a kanji.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The on'yomi (Chinese-derived reading) for 育 is イク (iku). You'll primarily find this reading in compound words, especially when discussing formal, abstract, or institutional aspects of growth, education, and upbringing. It frequently appears in terms related to systems, policies, or general concepts, rather than direct, everyday actions.
- 教育 (kyōiku) — education, training. This refers to the systematic process of imparting knowledge or skills.
- 体育 (taiiku) — physical education, PE. This term specifically denotes education related to physical development and exercise.
- 育児 (ikuji) — childcare, child-rearing. This compound refers to the general care and upbringing of children.
- 生育 (seiiku) — growth and development (especially of plants or animals).
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi (native Japanese) readings of 育 are more versatile and are often used as standalone verbs or in combination with hiragana. They directly describe the actions of growing, raising, and nurturing.
そだ.つ (soda.tsu) — This is an intransitive verb meaning 'to grow up,' 'to be raised,' or 'to develop.' It describes the subject growing on its own, without direct action from an external agent. For instance, think of a child growing up or a plant growing taller.
子供が育つ (kodomo ga sodatsu) — a child grows up
植物が育つ (shokubutsu ga sodatsu) — plants grow
そだ.てる (soda.teru) — This is a transitive verb meaning 'to raise,' 'to bring up,' or 'to cultivate.' It describes an action where someone or something actively helps another entity grow or develop. For example, a parent raising a child or a farmer cultivating crops.
子供を育てる (kodomo o sodateru) — to raise a child
花を育てる (hana o sodateru) — to cultivate flowers
はぐく.む (haguku.mu) — This verb means 'to nurture,' 'to foster,' or 'to bring up carefully.' It suggests gentle, dedicated, and often long-term care, frequently applying to emotional, intellectual, or spiritual growth, alongside physical development. It signifies a deeper, more intentional act of fostering.
愛を育む (ai o hagukumu) — to nurture love
才能を育む (sainō o hagukumu) — to foster talent
Common Words & Compounds
Here are various words and compounds using the kanji 育, categorized by theme to help you understand their usage:
Education and Development:
教育 (kyōiku) — education, training
体育 (taiiku) — physical education, PE
徳育 (tokuiku) — moral education
知育 (chiiku) — intellectual education
美育 (biiku) — aesthetic education
育成 (ikusei) — rearing, training, nurture, cultivation (e.g., human resources, athletes)
成長 (seichō) — growth, development (general term for living things or economies)
発育 (hatsuiku) — physical development, growth (often in reference to children or young animals)
成育 (seiiku) — growth and development (commonly used for plants and animals in a natural setting)
不育症 (fuikushō) — recurrent pregnancy loss, habitual abortion (medical term)
Childcare and Parenting:
育児 (ikuji) — childcare, child-rearing
育休 (ikukyū) — parental leave (a shortened form of 育児休暇)
保育園 (hoikuen) — nursery school, daycare center
共に育つ (ともにそだ) (tomo ni sodatsu) — to grow together
Verbs in Context:
育つ (sodatsu) — to grow up, to be raised (intransitive)
育てる (sodateru) — to raise, to bring up, to cultivate (transitive)
育む (hagukumu) — to nurture, to foster (often used for abstract concepts like love or talent)
Example Sentences
子供たちは元気に育っている。
Kodomo-tachi wa genki ni sodatte iru.
The children are growing up healthily.
私は毎日、庭で野菜を育てています。
Watashi wa mainichi, niwa de yasai o sodatete imasu.
I grow vegetables in the garden every day.
教育は子どもの未来にとってとても重要です。
Kyōiku wa kodomo no mirai ni totte totemo jūyō desu.
Education is very important for children's future.
彼女は音楽の才能を育みました。
Kanojo wa ongaku no sainō o hagukumimashita.
She nurtured her talent for music.
この花は日当たりの良い場所でよく育ちます。
Kono hana wa hiatari no yoi basho de yoku sodachimasu.
These flowers grow well in sunny places.
将来、温かい家庭を育みたいです。
Shōrai, atatakai katei o hagukumitai desu.
In the future, I want to nurture a warm family.
体を育てるためには、バランスの取れた食事が必要です。
Karada o sodateru tame ni wa, baransu no tovareta shokuji ga hitsuyō desu.
To grow your body, a balanced diet is necessary.
長い年月をかけて、彼は新しい技術を育んできました。
Nagai nengetsu o kakete, kare wa atarashii gijutsu o hagukunde kimashita.
Over many years, he has fostered new technology.
子どもを育てることは、親にとって大きな喜びです。
Kodomo o sodateru koto wa, oya ni totte ōkina yorokobi desu.
Raising children is a great joy for parents.
Memory Tip
Picture the kanji 育 as a small plant or a child (子), carefully nurtured by hands or a supportive environment. The top part resembles open arms or a cradle, shielding and nourishing the young life below. Meanwhile, the bottom strokes subtly hint at a plant's roots or a child's legs, suggesting steady growth. Think of a tiny seed in a pot: watered and cared for until it blossoms into a strong plant. This image of gentle care and continuous development is key to remembering that 育 means 'to grow,' 'to raise,' or 'to nurture.'