芽吹く

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 芽吹く is read めぶく and means sprouting or beginning to develop, including a new feeling or relationship.
• Basic usage: It is used for trees budding in warmer weather and figuratively for a new friendship forming.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Compared with 咲く
  • 芽吹く focuses on buds or shoots starting to emerge, while 咲く(さく) focuses on flowers blooming. 友情が芽吹いた figuratively describes a friendship beginning to develop.