Definition
芽 (yá) is a concrete noun meaning 'bud, sprout' — the small new growth on a plant. It is the everyday word for any kind of bud or shoot. For a flower bud specifically, use 花蕾 (huā lěi); 萌芽 (méng yá) as a noun is more formal/literary and can also mean 'germ' or figuratively 'the beginning of something'.
noun
budsprout
Easily confused
- 茎jīnglook-alikestem, stalk
- 呀yāsound-alike(interjection) ah! oh! (expressing surprise, sudden realization, or admiration)
- 节jiélook-alike(classifier) for segments of connected things: lessons, train cars, sections
- 压yāsound-aliketo press, to push down
- 苗Miáolook-alikeMiao (an ethnic group in China, mainly in Guizhou, Yunnan, and Hunan)
- 牙yásound-aliketooth
- 押yāsound-aliketo pawn, to mortgage
- 哑yǎsound-alikemute, dumb
Examples
- 芽。Zhèxiē yá yǐjīng zhǎng chūlái le.These buds have already come out.
- 芽。Lǜdòu yá chǎo zhe chī hěn shuǎngkǒu.Stir-fried mung bean sprouts are very refreshing.
- 。Chá shù shàng de nèn yá fēicháng zhēnguì.The tender buds on the tea plant are very precious.
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