芽

A phono-semantic compound:

艸 (“grass, plant”) — semantic element, indicating plants.

牙 (a / yá, “tooth, tusk”) — phonetic element.

Original meaning: new shoots or sprouts breaking through the soil (likened to a tooth emerging).

Widely used in modern Chinese, Korean, and Japanese with the literal sense “bud/sprout.”

發芽 (발아) — germination, to sprout

芽生 (아생) — budding, sprouting

豆芽 (두아 / 콩나물) — bean sprout

茶芽 (차아) — tea buds (young tea leaves)

花芽 (화아) — flower bud

The metaphor compares a plant shoot breaking through the ground to a tooth emerging through gums.

In East Asian literature, 芽 often symbolizes new beginnings, youth, and vitality.