苗: the kanji for seedling
苗 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means seedling. Below are its readings, 6 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
苗 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
苗 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
ビョウ (byou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 種苗しゅびょう · shubyō | seeds and seedlings |
| 育苗いくびょう · ikubyō | raising seedlings |
なえ (nae)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 苗なえ · nae | seedling |
| 苗木なえぎ · naegi | sapling |
なわ (nawa)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 苗代なわしろ · nawashiro | rice nursery bed |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 苗, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 早苗さなえ · sanae | rice seedlings |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 田んぼに稲の苗を植えた。Tanbo ni ine no nae o ueta.I planted rice seedlings in the paddy.
- 庭に桜の苗木を植えた。Niwa ni sakura no naegi o ueta.I planted a cherry sapling in the garden.
- 昔は苗代で稲を育てた。Mukashi wa nawashiro de ine o sodateta.Rice used to be raised in nursery beds.
- この店では野菜の種苗を売っている。Kono mise de wa yasai no shubyō o utte iru.This shop sells vegetable seeds and seedlings.
- 五月の田には早苗が並んでいる。Gogatsu no ta ni wa sanae ga narande iru.Rice seedlings are lined up in the paddies in May.
Questions about 苗
How many strokes does 苗 have?
苗 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 苗?
The on readings are byou (ビョウ). The kun readings are nae (なえ), nawa (なわ).
What JLPT level is 苗?
N1. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Nature, weather and animals
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 苗
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.