育てる
sodateru
/ɯꜜ.te.ɾɯ/
Definition
To raise or bring up a child, animal, or plant; to nurture something so it grows well.
Example
彼女は庭で野菜を育てている。
Show translation
She is growing vegetables in her garden.
Etymology
Combines 育 (*soda-*, "grow, develop") with the causative/transitive suffix *-teru*, giving the sense of "causing something to grow." The root character 育 (iku/soda) appears in related words such as 教育 (kyōiku, "education") and 発育 (hatsuiku, "growth/development"), all sharing the core meaning of nurturing life forward.
Cultural note
In Japanese culture, 育てる carries weight beyond simple gardening or parenting — it reflects the value placed on patient, careful nurturing (手をかける, *te wo kakeru*). The same verb is used whether you are raising a child, cultivating a bonsai tree, or mentoring a junior colleague at work (部下を育てる). This versatility mirrors a cultural philosophy that growth, whether human or natural, requires sustained, attentive care rather than speed.