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道Nihongo Path
茂

茂·overgrown, grow thick, be luxuriant

On-yomi
も
Kun-yomi
しげ.る

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
茂るしげるto grow thickly, to be luxuriant
繁茂はんもluxuriant growth (of plants)
生い茂るおいしげるto grow thick and rank
茂みしげみthicket, bushes

Example sentences

  1. 庭の草が夏の間に茂った。

    にわのくさがなつのあいだにしげった。

    The grass in the garden grew thick over the summer.

  2. 木々が生い茂って道が見えない。

    きぎがおいしげってみちがみえない。

    The trees have grown so thick that the path is invisible.

  3. 猫が茂みの中に隠れている。

    ねこがしげみのなかにかくれている。

    A cat is hiding in the bushes.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Reading 繁茂 as はんぼ — it is はんも
  • Writing しげる as 茂げる; the okurigana is just る

Memory aid

Picture it

The grass radical on top of 戊: plants sweeping out until they cover the ground completely.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 茂 mean?