肥える

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 肥える, read こえる, means becoming fertile in the case of soil or gaining weight in the case of a person or animal.
• Basic usage: The changing subject may be a field enriched with leaves or a sheep that becomes well fed.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Fertile soil and a well-fed animal
  • It describes soil becoming fertile and a sheep gaining weight after feeding. In both cases, the subject itself changes state.