seedling

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 苗 is read なえ, has 8 strokes, and relates to seedlings.
• Basic usage: 苗 is read なえ, and 苗字 is read みょうじ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 苗 and 苗字
  • 苗 means seedling.
  • 苗を畑に植える前に、たっぷり水を与えました。 means “We watered the seedlings thoroughly before planting them in the field.”
  • 苗字 means surname or family name.
  • 申込書には苗字と名前を分けて書いた。 means “I wrote my family name and given name in separate fields on the application.”