The Meaning of umu [産む] In Japanese

産む
うむ
Romaji: umu N5

What does 産む mean?

Translation and Meaning

to give birth, to bear, to produce (offspring)

Definition

What does 産む mean? It means to give birth or bear offspring; used for humans and animals; it can also imply to yield or produce something.

Type

verb (五段)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Figurative use to yield or generate results, ideas, or benefits.
  • Common collocations with 子を to indicate offspring in humans and animals; usage shifts with formality from casual 産む to formal 出産する.

Etymology

Native Japanese verb (kun’yomi) built from the noun 産 meaning birth or production, with the verb ending む. No loanword history; cognate with 生む in meaning and usage.

Composition

  • 産: birth, production; used in compounds like 産業, 産物
  • む: verb suffix that attaches to a noun/root to form the verb, indicating the act of producing or giving birth

Usage

Used across casual and formal contexts to describe the act of giving birth; for humans and animals, with 子を産む and 動物が子を産む as common phrases; formal or clinical contexts prefer 出産する; examples in Japanese: 子どもを産む, 動物が子を産む, 出産は大変だ
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a factory (産) producing a baby as a tiny product; add む to turn the noun into an action, so 産む means to cause production to occur

Variations

  • 生む (umu) – to give birth, alternative kanji with same meaning
  • 出産する (shussan suru) – to give birth, formal or clinical usage

Example Phrases

  • 私の友達は来年子供を産む予定だ。
    Watashi no tomodachi wa rainen kodomo o umu yotei da.
    My friend is going to have a baby next year.
    Lista:
    • 私の (watashi no) – my
    • 友達は (tomodachi wa) – friend (topic marker)
    • 来年 (rainen) – next year
    • 子供を (kodomo o) – a child
    • 産む (umu) – to give birth
    • 予定だ (yotei da) – is planned
    Here, 「産む」 means ‘to give birth’ and with 予定だ it shows a future plan.
産む