収穫（しゅうかく、shuukaku）
- harvest

The Japanese word 収穫 (しゅうかく - shū kaku) primarily means "harvest," "crop," or "yield." It refers to the act of gathering or collecting the products of a growing season, specifically from agriculture. However, 収穫 can also be used more broadly to describe the result or outcome of an effort or process, such as the achievement of a goal or the gain from an endeavor. It implies a positive outcome, a gathering of something valuable. The implication is often the culmination of work, time, and resources.

⚫︎ 今年の米の収穫 Translation: This year's rice harvest ⚫︎ 努力の収穫を祝う Translation: To celebrate the fruits of one's labor ⚫︎ 秋の収穫祭 Translation: Autumn Harvest Festival

⚫︎ You would use 収穫 when discussing agricultural harvests, such as the crops gathered in a season. ⚫︎ You can also use it figuratively to discuss the outcomes of work, study, or any kind of investment of effort. ⚫︎ It is generally a noun, but can be used as the *suru* verb 収穫する (shū kaku suru) meaning "to harvest" or "to reap". ⚫︎ Be aware of the context to ensure you're using it correctly, since the literal meaning is harvest and the figurative usage implies reaping results.

⚫︎ The word 収穫 is typically written in kanji 収穫. ⚫︎ The reading is しゅうかく (shū kaku) in hiragana. ⚫︎ There are no common variations in the okurigana (the suffix hiragana).

⚫︎ 実り (minori) - fruit, harvest, yield ⚫︎ 収穫物 (shūkakubutsu) - harvest, crops ⚫︎ 成果 (seika) - results, achievements, outcome ⚫︎ 稔り (minori) - ripening, harvest

⚫︎ 種まき (tanemaki) - sowing, planting ⚫︎ 不作 (fusaku) - poor harvest, crop failure

今年の米の収穫は、天候に恵まれ豊作だった。 ・Translation: This year's rice harvest was plentiful, thanks to favorable weather. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 収穫 in its literal, agricultural sense, describing the result of a harvest of rice.

長年の研究の末、ついに画期的な発見という収穫を得た。 ・Translation: After many years of research, they finally achieved the harvest of a groundbreaking discovery. ・Explanation: In this sentence, 収穫 is used figuratively to describe the positive result of a long period of study and effort.

The word 収穫 is composed of two kanji: 収 (shū), meaning "to gather," "to collect," or "to receive," and 穫 (kaku), which specifically refers to "harvest" or "gathering crops." The combination of these two characters creates the meaning of gathering in and reaping the benefits of the work done, typically in the context of agriculture or achieving a result.