What is the difference between "育つ" and "そだつ"?

"育つ" means "to grow up, to be raised" (N4), whereas "そだつ" represents "to grow (up), to be raised" (N3).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "そだつ (sodatsu)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

そだつ (sodatsu)

N4 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

そだつ (sodatsu)

N3 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "そだつ (sodatsu)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

育つ (Level: N4): Translates to "to grow up, to be raised" and is used when Intransitive verb. Used for living things.
そだつ (Level: N3): Maps to "to grow (up), to be raised" and carries the nuance of Intransitive verb. Used for plants, animals, or people growing and developing. The transitive form is 育てる.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "育つ"

私はこの町で育ちました。

I grew up in this town.

Bilingual Context for "そだつ"

この木は、日当たりの良い場所で大きく育った。

This tree grew large in a sunny spot.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "私はこの町で育ちました。" (Meaning: "I grew up in this town.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "育つ" is used for "to grow up, to be raised" in the context: "I grew up in this town.".