芽

sprout, bud

芽 is composed of 艸 (grass) and 牙 (tooth). 艸 represents plants. When a plant first sprouts, the young shoot pushes up through the soil and resembles a tooth in shape. Therefore, 芽 is used to mean the newly emerged shoot or bud of a plant.

Vocabulary of 芽

  • 芽菜 (bean sprout)
  • 胚芽 (bud)
  • 發牙 (germinate)

Classification

    Related Characters: