When plants 茂る (shigeru), it means they are growing very thickly. Imagine a lot of leaves and branches everywhere. It's like a garden that hasn't been trimmed in a long time, or a forest with lots of dense trees.
You often hear this word when talking about plants in nature. For example, a bush can 茂る (shigeru), or the trees in a park can 茂る (shigeru). It describes a situation where there's a lot of plant growth.
When talking about plants or trees growing densely, you'll often hear the verb 茂る (shigeru). It specifically describes a state where foliage is thick and lush, or an area that has become overgrown with plants. Think of a dense forest or a garden that hasn't been tended in a while.
You wouldn't use 茂る for a single plant growing, but rather for a collection of plants or branches that are creating a thick covering. It implies abundance and density in growth.
When discussing plant growth in Japanese, you'll often encounter the verb 茂る (shigeru). This word specifically describes plants that are growing densely or thickly, creating an overgrown appearance. You might use it to talk about a forest with lush foliage, a garden that's become a bit wild, or even a single tree with very full branches.
It emphasizes the abundance and density of the growth rather than just the act of growing. For example, if you see a field of tall, dense grass, you could say the grass is 茂っている. It's a useful word for painting a vivid picture of natural landscapes in Japanese.
茂る in 30 Seconds
- plants
- growth
- dense
§ Understanding 茂る (shigeru)
Let's break down the Japanese verb 茂る (shigeru). At its core, 茂る describes a state where plants are growing densely or are overgrown. Think about a lush forest, a thick bush, or even weeds that have taken over a garden – that's the kind of growth 茂る refers to. It's almost always used to describe plant life. You wouldn't use it for, say, a crowd of people, but definitely for trees, grass, or foliage.
- DEFINITION
- To grow thickly; to be overgrown (plants).
The CEFR level B1 means it's a useful word for intermediate learners. It's not super common in everyday casual conversation unless you're talking about nature or gardening, but it's important for reading and understanding descriptions of natural environments.
§ When to use it
You'll typically encounter 茂る when talking about:
- Forests and trees: Describing a dense forest or trees with thick foliage.
- Gardens and plants: When plants in a garden have grown very large and full.
- Wild growth: Such as overgrown fields or areas where weeds are rampant.
Here are some practical examples to show you how 茂る is used in sentences:
森が茂っていて、昼でも薄暗い。
The forest is thickly grown, so it's dim even at noon.
庭の草が茂りすぎたので、週末に草むしりをするつもりだ。
The grass in the garden has grown too thickly, so I plan to weed it this weekend.
夏の間に、つる植物が壁を覆うように茂った。
During the summer, the vines grew thickly to cover the wall.
Notice how in the examples, 茂る implies a significant amount of growth. It's not just a little plant, but something that has become abundant. The particle が (ga) often precedes 茂る when describing what is growing thickly.
§ Understanding 茂る (shigeru)
Let's talk about 茂る (shigeru). This verb means 'to grow thickly' or 'to be overgrown' when we're talking about plants. It's really useful for describing lush greenery, dense forests, or even just a garden that's gotten a bit out of hand. Think of a jungle, a thick bush, or tall grass – that's when you'd use 茂る.
- Japanese Word
- 茂る (しげる)
- English Definition
- To grow thickly, to be overgrown (plants).
§ Basic Sentence Structure with 茂る
茂る is an intransitive verb, which means it doesn't take a direct object. The thing that is growing thickly is the subject of the sentence. You'll often see it used with the particle が (ga) to mark the subject.
庭の草が茂っている。(Niwa no kusa ga shigerute iru.)
Hint: The grass in the garden is growing thickly/overgrown.
森は木々が茂っていた。(Mori wa kigi ga shigerute ita.)
Hint: The forest had thickly growing trees/was overgrown with trees.
§ Describing Places with 茂る
You can also use 茂る to describe places that are characterized by dense vegetation. In these cases, you might see particles like に (ni) or で (de) used to indicate the location.
山奥には深い森が茂っている。(Yamaoku ni wa fukai mori ga shigerute iru.)
Hint: Deep in the mountains, a dense forest grows thickly/is overgrown.
その地域は緑が茂っている。(Sono chiiki wa midori ga shigerute iru.)
Hint: That area is thickly overgrown with greenery.
§ Common Nouns Used with 茂る
Here are some common nouns that frequently appear with 茂る:
- 草 (くさ - kusa): grass
- 木 (き - ki): tree(s)
- 葉 (は - ha): leaves
- 森 (もり - mori): forest
- 林 (はやし - hayashi): woods, grove
- 植物 (しょくぶつ - shokubutsu): plants
夏の間に雑草が茂って、庭の手入れが大変だ。(Natsu no aida ni zassou ga shigerute, niwa no teire ga taihen da.)
Hint: Weeds grew thickly during the summer, and gardening is tough.
§ Nuances and Related Expressions
While 茂る is generally about plants growing thickly, it often carries a connotation of being dense, lush, or even unruly. There are other words you might encounter that are similar but have slightly different nuances.
- 生い茂る (おいしげる - oishigeru): This is a compound verb that emphasizes 'growing luxuriantly' or 'flourishing'. It often implies an even denser and more vigorous growth than just 茂る.
- 繁る (しげる - shigeru): This is another way to write 茂る, but 繁る can also mean 'to prosper' or 'to flourish' in a broader sense, not just for plants. When referring to plants, 茂る is more common.
ジャングルは植物が生い茂っている。(Janguru wa shokubutsu ga oishigerute iru.)
Hint: The jungle is luxuriantly overgrown with plants.
So, when you want to describe a scene with abundant and dense plant life, 茂る is your go-to verb. Pay attention to the particle が (ga) to mark the subject that is doing the growing, and remember the -ている form for ongoing states.
§ What 茂る (shigeru) means
- Japanese Word
- 茂る (shigeru)
- Type
- Verb
- CEFR Level
- B1
- Definition
- To grow thickly, to be overgrown (plants).
茂る (shigeru) is a word you'll often hear when people are talking about plants, especially when they're growing very densely or have become overgrown. Think about a garden that hasn't been tended to in a while, or a forest with thick undergrowth. This is exactly where 茂る comes in handy.
§ Where you hear 茂る (shigeru)
You'll encounter 茂る (shigeru) in various everyday situations, particularly when the topic shifts to nature, gardening, or even describing neglected areas. It's not a super formal word, so it fits comfortably in many contexts.
Work/Maintenance: If you work in gardening, landscaping, or property management, you'll hear this word when discussing areas that need clearing or pruning. For example, a supervisor might tell you about a section of the park where the bushes have become 茂る.
School/Nature Studies: In a school setting, especially in biology or nature studies, this word will come up when describing dense vegetation in forests, jungles, or even just school grounds. It's a precise way to talk about growth that isn't just 'growing' but 'growing thickly'.
News/Reports: In news reports, particularly those covering environmental issues, natural disasters (like areas becoming impassable due to overgrown vegetation), or even stories about abandoned properties, you might see or hear 茂る. It paints a vivid picture of the situation.
Casual Conversation: In everyday chats, if you're talking about your garden, a park you visited, or a hike you took, you might use 茂る to describe parts of the scenery. For instance, "That old house has a garden that's completely 茂る."
§ Examples of 茂る (shigeru) in action
庭の木がずいぶん茂っているので、明日草刈りをします。
- Hint
- The trees in the garden are quite overgrown, so I'll mow the lawn tomorrow.
Here, 茂っている (shigeru te iru) shows the current state of the trees being overgrown.
山は深く茂った木々で覆われていた。
- Hint
- The mountain was covered with thickly growing trees.
In this case, 茂った (shigetta) is the past tense, describing the state of the trees.
その地域は雑草が茂るままになっていた。
- Hint
- That area became overgrown with weeds.
Here, 茂るままになっていた (shigeru mama ni natte ita) implies that the weeds were left to grow thickly.
§ Don't confuse it with just 'growing'
Many learners, when they first encounter 茂る (shigeru), tend to think of it as a general verb for 'to grow.' While it does relate to growth, it specifically refers to growth that is dense, thick, or overgrown. It's not for a single small plant starting to sprout, or a child growing taller. Think lush, thick foliage, or a garden that has gone wild.
庭の草が茂っている。
This means 'The grass in the garden is overgrown/thickly grown.' It implies a dense, possibly messy, state of growth. You wouldn't use it for a single flower stem growing.
§ Using it for non-plant growth
茂る is almost exclusively used for plants. You wouldn't use it to describe hair growing thick, or a beard becoming bushy, even though in English we might say 'his beard grew thick.' For human hair or animal fur, you'd use different verbs or adjectives like 濃い (koi - thick/dark) or ふさふさ (fusafusa - bushy/fluffy). Trying to apply 茂る to things other than vegetation will sound unnatural to native speakers.
§ Not using it for 'sprouting' or 'budding'
When a seed starts to sprout, or a tree gets new buds, 茂る is not the verb you want. For sprouting, you might use 芽が出る (me ga deru - buds appear) or 発芽する (hatsuga suru - to germinate). For budding, 蕾が出る (tsubomi ga deru - buds appear). 茂る implies an already established and significant amount of growth.
森は深く茂っていた。
This means 'The forest was deeply overgrown/densely forested.' It evokes a sense of wild, abundant vegetation.
- Correct Usage Reminder
- 茂る (shigeru) is for plants that are growing densely, thickly, or becoming overgrown. Think 'lush,' 'dense,' 'tangled,' 'wild.' It conveys a sense of abundance and sometimes, lack of maintenance.
- Use for: forests, hedges, bushes, weeds, grass in a garden.
- Do NOT use for: hair, beards, single sprouts, budding plants, or human growth.
Paying attention to these specific nuances will help you use 茂る correctly and sound more natural in Japanese. It's a useful word for describing natural scenery and gardens, so getting it right will greatly improve your descriptive abilities.
How Formal Is It?
"手入れされていない庭は、雑草が繁茂していました。(The untended garden was overgrown with weeds.)"
"夏になると、木々が青々と茂ります。(In summer, the trees grow lush and green.)"
"しばらく散髪に行かなかったら、髪がボサボサになってしまった。(If I don't get a haircut for a while, my hair gets shaggy.)"
"お庭の草がもじゃもじゃになったね。(The grass in the garden got all shaggy, didn't it?)"
"うちの庭、手入れしてないからもうジャングルだよ。(Our garden is a jungle because we haven't tended to it.)"
Difficulty Rating
Kanji is moderately common, but pronunciation might be less obvious for new learners.
Writing the kanji requires a moderate number of strokes and good recall.
Pronunciation is straightforward once learned.
Pronunciation is clear and distinct.
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
When 茂る is used intransitively, the particle が marks the subject (what is growing thickly).
草が茂る。(Kusa ga shigeru.) - The grass grows thickly.
茂る can be used in the -te いる form (茂っている) to describe a state of being overgrown or growing thickly.
庭の木が茂っている。(Niwa no ki ga shigette iru.) - The trees in the garden are overgrown.
茂る can be used to describe not just grass or trees, but also hair, though less common.
髪が茂る。(Kami ga shigeru.) - Hair grows thickly. (This can imply unkempt hair.)
When describing a place that is overgrown, you can use the structure [place] は [plant] が茂っている.
森は木々が茂っている。(Mori wa kigi ga shigette iru.) - The forest is overgrown with trees.
茂る can be used as a modifier before a noun in its plain form (茂る木々) or in its past plain form (茂った木々) to describe an overgrown state.
茂る草むら。(Shigeru kusamura.) - An overgrown patch of grass.
Examples by Level
木が茂っています。
The trees are growing thickly.
庭の草が茂っています。
The grass in the garden is overgrown.
森が茂っています。
The forest is dense/overgrown.
この公園は木がたくさん茂っています。
This park has many trees growing thickly.
夏は草が早く茂ります。
In summer, grass grows thickly quickly.
道端の植物が茂っています。
The plants by the roadside are overgrown.
山にはたくさんの木が茂っています。
There are many trees growing thickly on the mountain.
草が茂ると、虫が増えます。
When grass grows thickly, insects increase.
庭の草が茂っています。
The grass in the garden is growing thickly.
木々が茂って、道が暗くなっています。
The trees are overgrown, and the road is dark.
この森は一年中茂っています。
This forest is lush all year round.
夏になると、植物がよく茂ります。
In summer, plants grow very well.
手入れをしないと、すぐに草が茂る。
If you don't take care of it, the grass will soon grow thick.
古い家は、周りに木が茂っている。
The old house has trees growing thickly around it.
この公園には、茂った木がたくさんあります。
This park has many overgrown trees.
冬でも、常緑樹は茂っています。
Even in winter, evergreen trees are lush.
庭の草が茂りすぎて、手入れが大変だ。
The grass in the garden is too overgrown, so maintenance is difficult.
森の奥深くには、木々が茂り、光が届きにくい場所がある。
Deep in the forest, trees grow thickly, and there are places where light is hard to reach.
abandoned house was completely overgrown with ivy and vines.
The abandoned house was completely overgrown with ivy and vines.
A common way to describe something being completely overgrown is to use 〜で茂る (de shigeru).
夏になると、川沿いの柳の木が青々と茂る。
When summer comes, the willow trees along the river grow lush and green.
この地域は、昔は豊かな森林が茂っていたそうだ。
I heard that this area used to have rich forests growing thickly.
手入れをしないと、あっという間に雑草が茂ってしまいます。
If you don't take care of it, weeds will quickly grow thickly.
竹林は一年中、青々と茂っている。
Bamboo groves are lush and green all year round.
あの山の斜面には、ツツジが群生して茂っている。
On that mountain slope, azaleas grow in clusters and are overgrown.
庭の草が茂りすぎて、手入れが大変だ。
The grass in the garden grew too thickly, and maintenance is a lot of work.
山道は木々が茂り、日中でも薄暗い。
The mountain path has thickly grown trees, and it's dim even during the day.
放置された畑は雑草が茂り放題だった。
The abandoned field was completely overgrown with weeds.
夏になると、この辺りの植物はぐんぐん茂る。
When summer comes, the plants around here grow rapidly and thickly.
彼の髪は伸び放題で、まるでジャングルのように茂っていた。
His hair was left to grow long, and it was overgrown like a jungle.
古い神社の境内は、苔が深く茂っていた。
The grounds of the old shrine were deeply overgrown with moss.
湖畔の葦は高く茂り、水面を隠していた。
The reeds by the lake grew tall and thickly, hiding the water's surface.
手入れを怠ると、すぐに庭木が茂ってしまう。
If you neglect maintenance, the garden trees will quickly grow thickly.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
夏になると、庭の草が茂る。
In summer, the grass in the garden grows thick.
木々が茂って、道が暗い。
The trees are overgrown, and the road is dark.
この森は、昔から木が深く茂っている。
Trees have grown deeply in this forest since ancient times.
手入れをしないと、庭はすぐに雑草が茂る。
If you don't take care of it, the garden will quickly become overgrown with weeds.
茂った葉が、日差しを遮っている。
The thick leaves are blocking the sunlight.
この辺りは、緑が豊かに茂っている。
This area is richly overgrown with greenery.
しばらく来ないうちに、庭の植物が茂りすぎた。
The garden plants have grown too thick while I haven't been here for a while.
古い家は、周りの木が茂っていて見えにくい。
The old house is hard to see because the surrounding trees are overgrown.
台風の後は、倒れた木や茂った枝を片付けなければならない。
After the typhoon, we have to clear away fallen trees and overgrown branches.
冬の間、手入れを怠ると春にはすぐに草が茂り始める。
If you neglect maintenance during winter, grass will quickly start to grow thick in spring.
Often Confused With
Many Japanese verbs translate to 'grow', but '茂る' specifically refers to plants growing densely or becoming overgrown, unlike more general terms for growth.
While dense plants might cover an area, '茂る' describes the state of the plants themselves, not the act of covering. Think of it as 'to be in a state of dense growth'.
While thriving plants can be '茂る', '茂る' focuses on the physical density rather than the general health or success of growth, which might be better described by other verbs like '繁栄する' (はんえいする) for general prosperity.
Easily Confused
Both involve growth, but '生える' is more general and refers to something growing or appearing, like hair or grass. '茂る' specifically describes dense, thick plant growth.
'生える' focuses on the act of sprouting or appearing; '茂る' emphasizes the denseness and abundance of growth.
髪が生える (Hair grows) vs. 木が茂る (Trees grow thickly)
Both relate to growth. '育つ' is about development and rearing, often implying a longer process of growth from infancy to maturity, and can apply to people, animals, or plants. '茂る' is strictly for plants growing densely.
'育つ' is about general development and maturing; '茂る' is about the state of being overgrown or growing thickly (plants only).
子供が育つ (A child grows up) vs. 雑草が茂る (Weeds grow thickly)
Both imply an increase in size. '伸びる' means to stretch, extend, or grow longer. While plants can '伸びる', '茂る' specifically highlights the density and volume of the growth, not just length.
'伸びる' is about linear extension or increase in length; '茂る' is about dense, bushy growth.
ひげが伸びる (A beard grows long) vs. 葉が茂る (Leaves grow thickly)
This is almost a synonym, often seen as an alternative kanji for '茂る' with a very similar meaning. The main confusion arises from the subtle nuance or preferred usage in certain contexts. '繁る' can sometimes carry a slightly broader sense of flourishing or thriving, not just dense growth.
While very similar, '茂る' (茂) typically emphasizes the physical denseness of plant growth. '繁る' (繁) can sometimes extend to general prosperity or flourishing, though in plant contexts, they are highly interchangeable.
木々が繁る (Trees grow thickly/flourish) - often interchangeable with 茂る.
Dense foliage can 'cover' an area, leading to confusion. '覆う' means to cover or spread over something. While dense plants might '覆う' the ground, '茂る' describes the plants' state of being dense, not the act of covering.
'覆う' is about the act or result of covering; '茂る' is about the characteristic of plants growing densely.
雪が地面を覆う (Snow covers the ground) vs. 草木が茂る (Plants grow thickly)
Word Family
Nouns
Adjectives
How to Use It
When talking about plants or trees, you can use 茂る (shigeru) to describe them growing densely or becoming overgrown. It's often used for things like grass, bushes, or forests. For example, you might say 「草が茂る」 (kusa ga shigeru) to mean 'the grass grows thickly' or 'the grass is overgrown'. You can also use it to describe a place that is overgrown with vegetation, like 「森が茂る」 (mori ga shigeru) meaning 'the forest is dense/overgrown'.
A common mistake is using 茂る (shigeru) for things that grow but aren't necessarily dense or overgrown, like a single flower or a small sapling. While a single plant can grow, 茂る implies a certain level of density or abundance. For a general sense of 'to grow' for plants, other verbs like 育つ (sodatsu) or 生える (haeru) might be more appropriate depending on the context. For example, you wouldn't say 「花が茂る」 (hana ga shigeru) to mean 'a flower grows'; instead, you would say 「花が育つ」 (hana ga sodatsu) or 「花が咲く」 (hana ga saku) meaning 'a flower blooms'.
Tips
Basic Meaning of 茂る
茂る (shigeru) means for plants to grow thickly or to become overgrown. Think of a lush forest or a garden that hasn't been tended to in a while.
Use with Plants Only
This verb is specifically used for vegetation. You wouldn't use it to describe a crowd of people or a dense fog. It's only for things that grow.
Common Contexts for 茂る
You'll often hear 茂る in contexts like: 森が茂る (mori ga shigeru - the forest grows thickly), 草が茂る (kusa ga shigeru - the grass is overgrown), or 庭の木が茂る (niwa no ki ga shigeru - the trees in the garden are overgrown).
Implies a Natural State
While it can mean 'overgrown' (which can have a negative connotation in English), 茂る often describes a healthy, natural growth, especially in the context of forests or wild areas. It's not always negative; it just describes density of growth.
Contrast with 伸びる
While 伸びる (nobiru) means 'to grow' in a general sense (e.g., hair, height), 茂る specifically refers to growth in volume and density of plants. A plant can 伸びる without 茂る, but if it 茂る, it has also 伸びる.
Past Tense and State
When describing a current state, you'll often see it in the past tense or continuous form: 茂っている (shigeru te iru), meaning 'is growing thickly' or 'is overgrown'. For example, 草が茂っている (kusa ga shigeru te iru - the grass is overgrown).
Adjective Form 茂み
The noun form 茂み (shigemi) means a thicket or bush. This is a common word to describe dense growth of plants.
Example Sentence 1
夏になると、庭の草が茂る。 (Natsu ni naru to, niwa no kusa ga shigeru.)
When summer comes, the grass in the garden grows thickly.
Example Sentence 2
森は深い緑に茂っていた。 (Mori wa fukai midori ni shigeru te ita.)
The forest was thickly grown with deep green.
Example Sentence 3
道を歩いていると、茂った木々が日差しを遮っていた。 (Michi o aruite iru to, shigeru ta kigi ga hizashi o saegitte ita.)
As I was walking down the road, the overgrown trees blocked the sunlight.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'shaggy guru' with an overgrown beard and hair. 'Shaggy guru' sounds like 'shigeru' and reminds you of something growing thickly.
Visual Association
Imagine a vibrant green forest where all the trees and bushes are so dense and overgrown that you can barely see through them. Focus on the feeling of lushness and thickness.
Word Web
Challenge
Describe a place you know that has a lot of overgrown plants or trees, using '茂る' in Japanese. For example, '私の家の裏庭は夏に草が茂る。' (My backyard gets overgrown with grass in the summer.)
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Describing a forest or natural area
- 森が茂っている (mori ga shigeru) - The forest is overgrown.
- 木々が茂る (kigi ga shigeru) - Trees grow thickly.
- 草木が茂る (kusaki ga shigeru) - Plants and trees grow thickly.
Talking about a garden or yard that needs tending
- 庭の草が茂る (niwa no kusa ga shigeru) - The garden weeds are overgrown.
- 庭木が茂りすぎている (niwaki ga shigeri sugite iru) - The garden trees are too overgrown.
- 手入れをしないと、すぐに茂ってしまう (teire o shinai to, sugu ni shigette shimau) - If you don't take care of it, it will quickly become overgrown.
Discussing the growth of specific plants
- つる植物が壁に茂る (tsuru shokubutsu ga kabe ni shigeru) - Vines grow thickly on the wall.
- 葉が茂る (ha ga shigeru) - Leaves grow thickly.
- 枝が茂る (eda ga shigeru) - Branches grow thickly.
Figurative use, though less common for B1
- 口ひげが茂る (kuchihige ga shigeru) - A mustache grows thickly (can be used humorously).
- 髪が茂る (kami ga shigeru) - Hair grows thickly (less common, usually for very abundant hair).
Observing the seasonal growth of nature
- 夏には植物が茂る (natsu ni wa shokubutsu ga shigeru) - In summer, plants grow thickly.
- 雨の後、草が茂り始めた (ame no ato, kusa ga shigeri hajimeta) - After the rain, the grass started to grow thickly.
- 日当たりの良い場所では、よく茂る (hiatari no yoi basho de wa, yoku shigeru) - In sunny places, it grows well.
Conversation Starters
"この公園の木は、とてもよく茂っていますね。 (Kono kōen no ki wa, totemo yoku shigette imasu ne.) - The trees in this park are very overgrown, aren't they? (Suggesting they grow thickly)"
"あなたの庭はいつもきれいに手入れされていますが、茂るのが大変じゃないですか？ (Anata no niwa wa itsumo kirei ni teire sarete imasu ga, shigeru no ga taihen ja nai desu ka?) - Your garden is always well-maintained, but isn't it hard to keep it from getting overgrown?"
"この茂った森の中には、どんな動物が住んでいると思いますか？ (Kono shigetta mori no naka ni wa, donna dōbutsu ga sunde iru to omoimasu ka?) - What kind of animals do you think live in this overgrown forest?"
"昔、この辺りはもっと茂っていたと聞きました。本当ですか？ (Mukashi, kono atari wa motto shigette ita to kikimashita. Hontō desu ka?) - I heard that this area used to be more overgrown. Is that true?"
"もしあなたの家に茂りすぎた植物があったら、どうしますか？ (Moshi anata no ie ni shigerisugita shokubutsu ga attara, dō shimasu ka?) - If there were plants too overgrown at your house, what would you do?"
Journal Prompts
あなたが最近見た、最も茂っていた場所はどこですか？その場所について説明してください。(Anata ga saikin mita, mottomo shigette ita basho wa doko desu ka? Sono basho ni tsuite setsumei shite kudasai.) - Where is the most overgrown place you've seen recently? Please describe that place.
もしあなたが庭師だったら、どのように茂った庭を手入れしますか？(Moshi anata ga niwashi dattara, dono yō ni shigetta niwa o teire shimasu ka?) - If you were a gardener, how would you tend to an overgrown garden?
茂った植物の美しさについて、どう思いますか？良い点と悪い点を考えてみましょう。(Shigetta shokubutsu no utsukushisa ni tsuite, dō omoimasu ka? Yoi ten to warui ten o kangaete mimashō.) - What do you think about the beauty of overgrown plants? Let's consider the good points and bad points.
あなたが植物を育てるとしたら、どんな植物を育てたいですか？そして、それが茂る様子を想像してみてください。(Anata ga shokubutsu o sodateru to shitara, donna shokubutsu o sodatetai desu ka? Soshite, sore ga shigeru yōsu o sōzō shite kudasai.) - If you were to grow plants, what kind of plants would you want to grow? And imagine how they would become overgrown.
あなたの住んでいる地域で、植物が一番茂る季節はいつですか？その季節に何が見られますか？(Anata no sunde iru chiiki de, shokubutsu ga ichiban shigeru kisetsu wa itsu desu ka? Sono kisetsu ni nani ga miraremasu ka?) - What is the season when plants grow most thickly in your area? What can you see during that season?
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsGreat question! While there are many ways to say 'grow' in Japanese, 茂る (shigeru) specifically refers to plants growing thickly or becoming overgrown. Think of it as a dense, lush growth. Other words might be more general, like 育つ (sodatsu) for general growth, or 生える (haeru) for something sprouting.
No, you can't. 茂る is strictly used for plants. You wouldn't use it to describe a child growing, or a business growing. It's really about that dense, overgrown quality of plant life.
That's a good observation. It can be neutral or slightly negative, depending on the context. If you're talking about a lush forest, it's neutral. But if you're talking about weeds in your garden, it definitely has a negative feeling of being overgrown and needing to be cut back.
It's a pretty straightforward verb. You can use it like this:
公園の木が茂っている。
The trees in the park are growing thickly.
庭の雑草が茂ってきた。
The weeds in the garden have become overgrown.
茂る is an intransitive verb. This means it doesn't take a direct object. The plants themselves are doing the 'growing thickly.' You wouldn't 'overgrow something' using 茂る.
Not really any common idioms, but you'll often see it used in descriptions of nature. For example, 「草木が茂る」 (kusaki ga shigeru) means 'grass and trees grow thickly,' which is a very common way to describe a lush environment.
The kanji 茂 itself means 'overgrown' or 'luxuriant.' It's a single kanji that carries the core meaning. The る is the okurigana, indicating it's a verb.
茂る implies a state of being dense or thick specifically due to plant growth. So, while a forest might be described as 'dense' (密な - mitsuna) because the trees 茂っている (are growing thickly), you wouldn't use 茂る to describe a dense fog or a thick book.
茂る is a B1 level word. This means it's considered an intermediate vocabulary word that you'll encounter and use as you progress in your Japanese studies.
No, 茂る is not used figuratively. It's a very literal word for describing the physical growth of plants. You wouldn't say someone's thoughts 'grew thickly' with 茂る.
Test Yourself 132 questions
庭に木がよく___います。
The word しげる (shigeru) means 'to grow thickly' or 'to be overgrown', which fits the context of trees in a garden.
夏は草が___やすいです。
In summer, grass tends to grow thickly, so しげる (shigeru) is the correct verb here.
山には木がたくさんが___います。
Mountains often have many trees that grow thickly, making しげる (shigeru) the appropriate word.
公園の植物はとても___います。
Plants in a park can be very overgrown, so しげる (shigeru) is the right choice.
この森は木が___て、暗いです。
The forest is dark because the trees are growing thickly. しげっ (shige', the te-form of shigeru) fits this meaning.
道ばたに雑草が___ています。
Weeds often grow thickly by the roadside. しげっ (shige', the te-form of shigeru) is suitable here.
Choose the best English translation for 「木が茂る」.
「茂る」 (shigeru) means 'to grow thickly' or 'to be overgrown'. So 「木が茂る」 means 'The tree grows thickly'.
Which sentence uses 「茂る」 correctly?
「茂る」 (shigeru) refers to plants growing thickly. '公園に木が茂っています。' (Kōen ni ki ga shigeru teimasu.) means 'Trees are growing thickly in the park.'
What is the opposite of 'to grow thickly' in the context of plants?
If a plant is 'growing thickly' (茂る), the opposite would be for it to 'wither' or become sparse.
「草が茂る」 means 'The grass is growing thinly'.
「茂る」 (shigeru) means 'to grow thickly' or 'to be overgrown'. So 「草が茂る」 means 'The grass is growing thickly' or 'The grass is overgrown'.
You can use 「茂る」 to describe a person growing tall.
「茂る」 (shigeru) is specifically used for plants growing thickly, not for people growing tall.
「森が茂る」 means 'The forest is dense with growth'.
「茂る」 (shigeru) means 'to grow thickly' or 'to be overgrown', and '森' (mori) means 'forest'. So, 'The forest is dense with growth' is a correct interpretation.
What is the tree doing?
What is happening to the grass in the garden?
How does the forest look?
Read this aloud:
木が茂っています。
Focus: しげる
You said:
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Read this aloud:
草が茂る。
Focus: くさ
You said:
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Read this aloud:
道端の植物が茂っています。
Focus: みちばた
You said:
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Write a short sentence describing a lush forest using simple Japanese. Think about how plants grow.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
森は木がたくさん茂っています。
Imagine you see a garden with lots of plants. Write a simple Japanese sentence saying that the plants are growing thickly.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
庭の植物が茂っています。
You are at a park. Describe how the grass is overgrown in one simple Japanese sentence.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
公園の草が茂っています。
What is growing thickly?
Read this passage:
公園に大きな木があります。その木は葉がたくさん茂っています。
What is growing thickly?
The passage says 「その木は葉がたくさん茂っています」 which means 'That tree has many leaves growing thickly.'
The passage says 「その木は葉がたくさん茂っています」 which means 'That tree has many leaves growing thickly.'
What kind of plants are growing thickly in this garden?
Read this passage:
この庭には花が茂っています。とてもきれいです。
What kind of plants are growing thickly in this garden?
The passage says 「この庭には花が茂っています」 which means 'Flowers are growing thickly in this garden.'
The passage says 「この庭には花が茂っています」 which means 'Flowers are growing thickly in this garden.'
When do the mountain trees grow lushly?
Read this passage:
夏になると、山の木々が青々と茂ります。景色が美しいです。
When do the mountain trees grow lushly?
The passage states 「夏になると、山の木々が青々と茂ります」 which translates to 'When summer comes, the mountain trees grow lushly.'
The passage states 「夏になると、山の木々が青々と茂ります」 which translates to 'When summer comes, the mountain trees grow lushly.'
庭の草がとてもよく___。
「茂る」は植物が厚く生い茂る様子を表します。この文脈では、庭の草が非常に密集して生えていることを意味します。
夏には木々の葉が___。
夏になり、木々の葉が豊かに生い茂る様子を「茂る」で表現します。
あの山は深い森で___いる。
山が深い森で覆われている状態は「茂っている」が適切です。
手入れをしないと、庭はすぐに雑草が___しまう。
手入れをしないと、雑草が密集して生い茂る様子を「茂る」で表します。
公園の木々が___、涼しい木陰を作っている。
木々が豊かに生い茂ることで涼しい木陰ができる、という状況に「茂り」が合います。
この道は両側に草木が___、少し暗い。
道の両側に草木が密集して生い茂り、道が暗くなっている状況を「茂り」で表現します。
Choose the sentence where plants are growing thickly.
「茂る」は植物が豊かに生える状態を表します。この文がそれに当てはまります。 (Shigeru means plants growing abundantly. This sentence fits that meaning.)
Which of these describes a 'shigeru' situation?
「茂る」は、草木などが生い茂っている様子を言います。木が大きく育った状態が「茂る」に近いです。 (Shigeru refers to plants growing densely. A tree growing big is close to that meaning.)
What kind of place would you most likely describe as 'shigeru'?
「茂る」は、植物が自然に生い茂っている状態を表します。手入れされていない森の奥は、草木が茂っている場所です。(Shigeru describes plants growing naturally and densely. The depths of an untended forest would be a place where plants are overgrown.)
茂るは、部屋が散らかっている様子を表す言葉である。
「茂る」は植物が豊かに生える様子を表し、部屋の散らかり具合には使いません。(Shigeru describes plants growing thickly, not a messy room.)
公園の木々が茂っているとは、木がたくさん生えている様子を言う。
「茂る」は草木などがたくさん生えている状態を表すので、この文は正しいです。(Shigeru means plants and trees growing in abundance, so this statement is correct.)
「茂る」は、雨が降る音を表す言葉である。
「茂る」は植物が生い茂る様子を表す言葉で、雨の音とは関係ありません。(Shigeru describes plants growing densely, and has no relation to the sound of rain.)
The grass in the garden is overgrown.
The trees in the forest are growing thickly, and it's cool.
In summer, the plants around here quickly become overgrown.
Read this aloud:
この茂った森には動物がたくさんいます。
Focus: しげった (shigetta)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
庭の木が茂りすぎて、日当たりが悪くなった。
Focus: しげりすぎて (shigerisugite)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
彼はひげが茂っていて、まるで仙人のようだ。
Focus: ひげがしげっていて (hige ga shigette ite)
You said:
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Imagine you're walking in a park. Describe what you see in Japanese, focusing on plants that are growing thickly. Use the verb '茂る'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
公園には木がたくさん茂っています。草も茂っていて、とても緑豊かです。(In the park, many trees are growing thickly. The grass is also overgrown, making it very lush green.)
You are describing your garden to a friend. Write two sentences in Japanese about parts of your garden that have become overgrown. Use '茂る'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私の庭のバラがとても茂っています。雑草も茂っていて、少し手入れが必要です。(The roses in my garden are growing very thickly. The weeds are also overgrown, and it needs a little care.)
Describe a place you know where plants grow very thickly, like a forest or a wild area. Write one sentence in Japanese using '茂る'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
山には木々が深く茂っています。(The trees are deeply overgrown in the mountains.)
What happens to the grass in the garden in summer?
Read this passage:
夏になると、庭の草がすぐに茂ります。毎日手入れをするのが大変です。特に雨の後は、もっと茂りますね。
What happens to the grass in the garden in summer?
The passage says '庭の草がすぐに茂ります' (the grass in the garden quickly grows thickly).
The passage says '庭の草がすぐに茂ります' (the grass in the garden quickly grows thickly).
Why is the old house not very visible?
Read this passage:
あの古い家は、周りの木々が茂っていて、あまり見えません。まるで森の中に隠れているようです。
Why is the old house not very visible?
The passage states '周りの木々が茂っていて、あまり見えません' (the surrounding trees are overgrown, so it's not very visible).
The passage states '周りの木々が茂っていて、あまり見えません' (the surrounding trees are overgrown, so it's not very visible).
Why is it always cool under the big tree in the park?
Read this passage:
公園の大きな木の下は、いつも日陰で涼しいです。葉が茂っているので、太陽の光が届きません。
Why is it always cool under the big tree in the park?
The passage says '葉が茂っているので、太陽の光が届きません' (because the leaves are thick, sunlight doesn't reach).
The passage says '葉が茂っているので、太陽の光が届きません' (because the leaves are thick, sunlight doesn't reach).
This sentence means 'Trees are growing thickly in the garden.' The particle 'が' is often omitted in casual speech, but it is implied here.
This means 'In summer, grass grows thickly by the roadside.'
This translates to 'The forest is overgrown with plants.'
庭の草が最近よく___。
「茂る」は、草木が密生して生い茂る様子を表します。
手入れをしていないので、庭の木が___しまっている。
「茂る」は、植物が手入れされずに密生した状態によく使われます。
夏の間に雑草が___、庭が荒れてしまった。
「茂る」は、特に夏場の雑草の成長によく使われます。
公園の奥には、木々が___深い森がある。
「茂った」は、木々が密生している様子を表す形容詞形です。
あの山は一年中緑の木々が___ている。
「茂っている」で、植物が常に生い茂っている状態を表します。
手入れが行き届いているので、花壇の草は___ない。
「茂らない」は、植物が密生しない、生い茂らないという意味になります。
The grass in the garden...
The trees in the forest...
In summer, plants...
Read this aloud:
草が茂っていて、歩きにくい。
Focus: しげっていて (shigete ite)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
茂った森は涼しい。
Focus: しげった (shigetta)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
この茂った庭を手入れしなければならない。
Focus: ていれ (teire)
You said:
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Describe a place where plants are茂る. What does it look like? What kind of plants are there?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
私の家の裏庭には、夏になると雑草が茂ります。特に、背の高い草がたくさん生えて、庭がジャングルのようになります。手入れをしないと、あっという間に緑でいっぱいになります。
Imagine you are walking through a forest where the trees茂る. What sounds do you hear? What do you feel?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
深い森の中を歩いていると、木々が茂っていて、太陽の光がほとんど届きません。鳥の声が聞こえ、湿った土の匂いがします。とても静かで、心が落ち着きます。
Write a short sentence using 茂る to describe a garden that has not been maintained for a long time.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
この庭は長い間手入れされていないので、雑草が茂っています。
この「秘密の森」について、正しいのはどれですか？
Read this passage:
公園の奥には、誰も立ち入らないような場所があり、そこには背の高い草が茂っていました。子供の頃、私たちはそこを「秘密の森」と呼んでいました。夏になると、さらに植物が茂り、中に入るのが難しくなりました。
この「秘密の森」について、正しいのはどれですか？
文章に「背の高い草が茂っていました」「中に入るのが難しくなりました」とあるため、植物が茂っていて入りにくい場所であったことがわかります。
文章に「背の高い草が茂っていました」「中に入るのが難しくなりました」とあるため、植物が茂っていて入りにくい場所であったことがわかります。
この裏庭の状態はどうでしたか？
Read this passage:
引っ越してきたばかりの家には、手入れされていない庭がありました。特に裏庭はひどく、雑草が茂っていて、どこに道があるのかもわからないほどでした。週末ごとに少しずつ草を刈り、やっときれいになりました。
この裏庭の状態はどうでしたか？
文章に「雑草が茂っていて、どこに道があるのかもわからないほどでした」とあるため、雑草が生い茂っていたことがわかります。
文章に「雑草が茂っていて、どこに道があるのかもわからないほどでした」とあるため、雑草が生い茂っていたことがわかります。
この神社について、どんな雰囲気でしたか？
Read this passage:
都会から少し離れた場所にある古い神社は、周りの木々がとても茂っていました。そのため、昼間でも少し薄暗く、神秘的な雰囲気が漂っていました。この茂った木々が、長い間、この神社を守ってきたかのようでした。
この神社について、どんな雰囲気でしたか？
文章に「昼間でも少し薄暗く、神秘的な雰囲気が漂っていました」とあるため、神秘的な雰囲気だったことがわかります。
文章に「昼間でも少し薄暗く、神秘的な雰囲気が漂っていました」とあるため、神秘的な雰囲気だったことがわかります。
What grows quickly in the summer?
What is the condition of the trees in the unattended forest?
What is surrounding the old shrine?
Read this aloud:
庭の植物が茂りすぎて、手入れが大変だ。
Focus: 茂りすぎて (shigeri-sugite)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
この辺りは夏になると雑草が茂るので、定期的に草むしりが必要です。
Focus: 雑草が茂る (zassou ga shigeru)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
日当たりの良い場所では、植物がよく茂る。
Focus: よく茂る (yoku shigeru)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you're describing an abandoned garden. Write a sentence in Japanese about the plants growing thickly. Use '茂る'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
古い庭の植物は手入れされずに茂っていた。
You are giving directions to a friend. Write a Japanese sentence telling them that the path is overgrown with trees and difficult to pass. Use '茂る'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
その道は木々が茂っていて、少し通りにくいかもしれません。
Describe a beautiful, dense forest you've visited or imagined. Write a Japanese sentence using '茂る' to talk about the trees.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
深呼吸すると、木々が青々と茂る森の新鮮な空気が感じられた。
この文章から、いつ雑草が早く茂りやすいと述べられていますか？
Read this passage:
夏の暑い日、庭の手入れを怠ると、雑草はあっという間に茂ってしまいます。特に梅雨の時期は、雨と日差しで植物の成長が早まり、庭がジャングル化することも珍しくありません。このため、定期的な草むしりが非常に重要になります。
この文章から、いつ雑草が早く茂りやすいと述べられていますか？
文章に「夏の暑い日、庭の手入れを怠ると、雑草はあっという間に茂ってしまいます。特に梅雨の時期は、雨と日差しで植物の成長が早まり」とあります。
文章に「夏の暑い日、庭の手入れを怠ると、雑草はあっという間に茂ってしまいます。特に梅雨の時期は、雨と日差しで植物の成長が早まり」とあります。
池の周りの葦はどのような状態ですか？
Read this passage:
公園の奥には、手入れされていない古い池がある。その周りには、葦（よし）が驚くほど茂っていて、水面をほとんど覆い隠している。鳥たちはその茂みに隠れて、安心して過ごしているようだ。この自然な状態が、多くの生き物にとって良い環境となっている。
池の周りの葦はどのような状態ですか？
文章に「その周りには、葦（よし）が驚くほど茂っていて、水面をほとんど覆い隠している」とあります。
文章に「その周りには、葦（よし）が驚くほど茂っていて、水面をほとんど覆い隠している」とあります。
夏に山々がどのような状態になりますか？
Read this passage:
この地域の山々は、一年を通して緑豊かなことで知られています。特に夏になると、木々の葉は一層青々と茂り、深い影を作り出します。ハイキングコースも木々に覆われているため、直射日光を避けて快適に歩くことができます。
夏に山々がどのような状態になりますか？
文章に「特に夏になると、木々の葉は一層青々と茂り、深い影を作り出します」とあります。
文章に「特に夏になると、木々の葉は一層青々と茂り、深い影を作り出します」とあります。
This sentence describes how the grass in the backyard is quite overgrown. The structure is 'location の subject が condition 茂っている'.
This sentence means 'The trees in the forest grew thickly, blocking out the light.' It shows '茂る' in its conjunctive form (茂り) connecting two clauses.
This sentence conveys 'During the summer, weeds grew all over the garden.' The structure is 'time の 間に subject が location に 茂ってしまった'.
手入れされていない庭には雑草が___。
「茂る」は、植物が密生して生い茂る様子を表します。「生える」や「伸びる」、「育つ」も植物の成長を表しますが、「茂る」は特にその密度に焦点を当てています。
鬱蒼と___森の奥深くには、めったに人が入らない。
「茂る」は、植物が密に生い茂る様子を表すのに適しています。「鬱蒼と」という表現と組み合わさることで、さらにその密度が強調されます。
夏の強い日差しの中、木々の葉が青々と___。
「茂る」は、特に葉が豊かに生い茂る様子を表すのに使われます。「青々と」という形容詞とも相性が良いです。
放置された畑は、あっという間に雑草が___、見る影もなくなった。
「茂る」は、雑草などが一面に生い茂る状況にぴったりの表現です。放置された状態を強調します。
昔の家屋の周りには、手入れされていない庭木が___。
「茂る」は、庭木などが手入れされずに枝葉が密になる様子を表すのに適しています。
この地域は雨量が多く、植物がよく___。
「茂る」は、植物が豊かに、そして密に成長する様子を表します。雨量が多い環境でよく見られる状態です。
The forest is untended, so the trees are growing freely.
The garden plants grew too thickly, almost hiding the path.
By the end of summer, the reeds along the river grow surprisingly thick.
Read this aloud:
この地域の植物は、豊かな雨量のおかげで一年中茂っています。
Focus: 茂っています (shigotte imasu)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
手入れを怠ると、庭はすぐに雑草で茂ってしまいます。
Focus: 茂ってしまいます (shigotte shimaimasu)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
熱帯地方では、植物が非常に早く、そして豊かに茂る傾向があります。
Focus: 茂る傾向があります (shigeru keikou ga arimasu)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you are describing an abandoned garden that has been left unattended for years. Use "茂る" to describe the state of the plants. What kind of atmosphere does it create?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
この荒れた庭では、長い間手入れされていない草木が所構わず茂っています。まるで時間が止まったかのような、少し神秘的で寂しい雰囲気が漂っています。
Describe a scene where nature has reclaimed an old, man-made structure, like a ruin or an old building. How does the concept of "茂る" apply here?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
古い工場跡は、今ではすっかり自然に飲み込まれています。壁には蔦が茂り、屋根の上まで草木が覆い尽くし、かつての姿は想像できないほどです。まさに自然の力が茂ることで、新たな命が吹き込まれたようです。
You are writing a short story. In one scene, the characters are exploring a dense forest. Use "茂る" to convey the difficulty of moving through it and the feeling of being enclosed.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
森の奥へ進むにつれて、木々がますます茂り、道なき道を進むのが困難になってきた。視界は遮られ、まるで緑の壁に囲まれているようだ。時折、息苦しさを感じるほどの密林が続いていた。
この神社が忘れ去られた場所であることを、最もよく表しているのはどれですか？
Read this passage:
昔々、ある山奥に、忘れ去られた神社がありました。その神社の周りには、手入れされていない木々が鬱蒼と茂り、昼間でも薄暗いほどでした。参道も草で覆われ、どこまで続いているのかも分からないほどでした。人々は、その神社には神様が住んでいるという噂を聞き、めったに近づきませんでした。
この神社が忘れ去られた場所であることを、最もよく表しているのはどれですか？
木々が鬱蒼と茂り、参道も草で覆われている描写が、手入れされずに放置されている、つまり忘れ去られた場所であることを示しています。
木々が鬱蒼と茂り、参道も草で覆われている描写が、手入れされずに放置されている、つまり忘れ去られた場所であることを示しています。
筆者が庭に対して感じた「懐かしい」という感情の理由として、最も適切なものはどれですか？
Read this passage:
夏の暑い日、僕は祖母の家を訪れた。庭に出ると、そこはまるでジャングルのようだった。バラのつるが壁を這い、雑草がひざの高さまで茂っていた。祖母は「最近は腰が痛くて、庭の手入れができないのよ」と申し訳なさそうに言った。しかし、僕はその野生的な庭が、どこか懐かしく、美しいと感じた。
筆者が庭に対して感じた「懐かしい」という感情の理由として、最も適切なものはどれですか？
「野生的な庭が、どこか懐かしく、美しいと感じた」という記述から、手入れされていない自然な状態が、筆者にとって心地よい過去の記憶と結びついていることが示唆されます。
「野生的な庭が、どこか懐かしく、美しいと感じた」という記述から、手入れされていない自然な状態が、筆者にとって心地よい過去の記憶と結びついていることが示唆されます。
住民たちがこの緑地を守ろうとした主な理由は何ですか？
Read this passage:
都市開発が進む中、奇跡的に残された小さな緑地があった。そこは、手つかずの自然が茂り、都会の喧騒を忘れさせる静かな空間だった。しかし、ある日、開発計画が持ち上がり、その緑地も失われる危機に瀕した。住民たちは、この貴重な自然を守るために立ち上がった。
住民たちがこの緑地を守ろうとした主な理由は何ですか？
「都会の喧騒を忘れさせる静かな空間だった」という記述が、住民がこの緑地を大切に思う具体的な理由を示しています。
「都会の喧騒を忘れさせる静かな空間だった」という記述が、住民がこの緑地を大切に思う具体的な理由を示しています。
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence: 庭の木々が___、手入れが必要だ。
「茂る」は植物が豊かに生い茂る様子を表します。文脈から庭の木が伸び放題になっていることが推測され、「茂り」が最も適切です。 Hint: The trees in the garden are ___, they need maintenance.
Which sentence uses 「茂る」 correctly?
「茂る」は植物が生い茂る様子にのみ使われます。他の選択肢は不自然です。 Hint: When walking on the mountain path, plants were ___ from both sides.
「茂る」の反対の意味を持つ言葉として最も近いものはどれですか？
「茂る」は植物が豊かに生い茂ることを意味するのに対し、「枯れる」は植物が水分を失って生命活動を停止する意味で、対義語として適切です。 Hint: What is the closest word in meaning opposite to "茂る"?
夏になると、森の木々は一層青々と茂る。
夏は植物が成長する時期であり、森の木々が青々と生い茂る様子は自然な描写です。 Hint: In summer, the trees in the forest become even more lush and overgrown.
彼は新しいアイデアが頭の中で茂っていると言った。
「茂る」は植物の成長に対して使われる動詞であり、アイデアなどの抽象的な概念には通常使いません。 Hint: He said new ideas were growing thickly in his head.
手入れされていない庭は、雑草が茂り放題だった。
「茂る」は、雑草が手入れされずに伸び放題になっている様子を表すのに適切な表現です。 Hint: In the untended garden, weeds were growing thickly everywhere.
The forest is overgrown with weeds because it's not well-maintained.
The garden plants grew too thickly, causing poor sunlight.
In summer, the trees around here grow even more lushly.
Read this aloud:
この藪は非常に茂っていて、奥に進むのが困難だ。
Focus: しげっていて (shigete ite)
You said:
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Read this aloud:
放置された畑には、背の高い草が茂り放題だった。
Focus: しげりほうだい (shigeri houdai)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Read this aloud:
手入れをしないと、あっという間に庭の木が茂ってしまう。
Focus: しげってしまう (shigete shimau)
You said:
Speech recognition is not supported in your browser. Try Chrome or Edge.
Imagine you are describing an abandoned garden that has been left unattended for years. How would you use '茂る' to describe the state of the plants and foliage?
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
何年も手入れされていない庭は、草木が茂り放題で荒れ果てていた。
You are writing a short story about exploring a dense forest. Describe a scene where the path is almost completely hidden by overgrown vegetation, using '茂る'.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
森の奥深くに進むにつれて、木々が茂り、道はほとんど見えなくなった。まるで緑のトンネルのようだった。
Explain how climate change might affect the way plants '茂る' in certain regions, leading to denser growth or desertification.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
気候変動は、ある地域では植物の成長を促進し、より密に茂るようになる可能性がある一方で、別の地域では乾燥が進み、植物が茂らなくなることもあるだろう。
この文章から読み取れる、庭の現在の状態として最も適切なものはどれですか？
Read this passage:
放置された古民家の庭は、数年のうちに様々な植物が自由に生い茂り、まるで小さな森のようになっていた。特に夏になると、生命力に満ちた緑が視界を埋め尽くし、かつての住人の生活の痕跡を覆い隠していた。
この文章から読み取れる、庭の現在の状態として最も適切なものはどれですか？
「自由に生い茂り」「視界を埋め尽くしていた」という表現から、植物が手入れされずに過剰に成長していることがわかります。
「自由に生い茂り」「視界を埋め尽くしていた」という表現から、植物が手入れされずに過剰に成長していることがわかります。
熱帯雨林で木々が密生している主な理由は何ですか？
Read this passage:
熱帯雨林では、年間を通じて豊富な雨量と高い気温が植物の成長を促進する。そのため、木々は絶えず枝葉を茂らせ、光が地表に届くのを妨げるほど密生した生態系を形成している。この豊かな植生は、多種多様な生物の生息地となっている。
熱帯雨林で木々が密生している主な理由は何ですか？
文章中に「年間を通じて豊富な雨量と高い気温が植物の成長を促進する。そのため、木々は絶えず枝葉を茂らせ」と明記されています。
文章中に「年間を通じて豊富な雨量と高い気温が植物の成長を促進する。そのため、木々は絶えず枝葉を茂らせ」と明記されています。
都市部の緑地減少が引き起こす問題として、この文章で述べられているのは何ですか？
Read this passage:
都市部における緑地の減少は、ヒートアイランド現象の一因とされている。かつて広大な森林が茂っていた場所がコンクリートで覆われることで、太陽光が吸収され、地表温度が上昇する。これは、都市の生態系だけでなく、人々の生活環境にも悪影響を及ぼす。
都市部の緑地減少が引き起こす問題として、この文章で述べられているのは何ですか？
「都市部における緑地の減少は、ヒートアイランド現象の一因とされている」と明確に書かれています。
「都市部における緑地の減少は、ヒートアイランド現象の一因とされている」と明確に書かれています。
This sentence describes how the grass in the backyard is quite overgrown. The structure is 'Subject の object が adverb 茂っている'.
This sentence means 'If you don't take care of it, the garden trees will quickly become overgrown.' It follows 'Condition と, Subject が adverb Verb'.
This sentence translates to 'The forest was overgrown with trees, and it was dark even during the day.' The structure is 'Location は Subject が Verb、 Condition だった'.
/ 132 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
茂る describes plants growing thickly and abundantly, like an overgrown garden.
- plants
- growth
- dense
Basic Meaning of 茂る
茂る (shigeru) means for plants to grow thickly or to become overgrown. Think of a lush forest or a garden that hasn't been tended to in a while.
Use with Plants Only
This verb is specifically used for vegetation. You wouldn't use it to describe a crowd of people or a dense fog. It's only for things that grow.
Common Contexts for 茂る
You'll often hear 茂る in contexts like: 森が茂る (mori ga shigeru - the forest grows thickly), 草が茂る (kusa ga shigeru - the grass is overgrown), or 庭の木が茂る (niwa no ki ga shigeru - the trees in the garden are overgrown).
Implies a Natural State
While it can mean 'overgrown' (which can have a negative connotation in English), 茂る often describes a healthy, natural growth, especially in the context of forests or wild areas. It's not always negative; it just describes density of growth.
Related Content
More nature words
～上
B1Above; on top of; up.
〜の上
A2On top of, above, upon.
豊か
B1Abundant; rich; plentiful (na-adjective).
〜に従って
B1According to, in conformity with, as (something happens).
酸性雨
B1Acid rain.
営み
B1Activity; daily life; undertaking (e.g., life's activities).
順応する
B1To adapt; to adjust; to conform.
~を背景に
B1Against the backdrop of; with...as background.
空気
A2air
大気汚染
B1Air pollution; the presence of harmful substances in the air.
