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On'yomi
カ・ケ
KA / KE
Kun'yomi
はな
hana

flower

beautifulnaturedynamic

Details

Strokes7
Frequency#578
Radicalgrass(6)

Stroke Order

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Strokes7

Component Breakdown

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Grass + change

Cultural Context

Etymology

Composed of '艹' (grass) and '化' (change). Grass transformed into something beautiful.

Symbolism

Beauty, transience, seasons. Symbolizes Japanese aesthetics seen in hanami culture.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Garden with blooming flowers

Seasonal

Often refers to cherry blossoms, symbolizing spring March to April. Spring traditions like hanami and petal showers.

Games

牧場物語

Story of Seasons(1996)

Nintendo/PlayStation

Developer: Marvelous

Slow-life RPG growing 'flowers' and crops on a farm.

View on Amazon →

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

花鳥風月

かちょうふうげつ

beauties of nature; the traditional themes of natural beauty in Japanese aesthetics; artistic pursuits involving nature themes; beauties of nature

百花斉放

ひゃっかせいほう

let a hundred flowers blossom; Hundred Flowers campaign; let a hundred flowers blossom

百花繚乱

ひゃっかりょうらん

a gathering of many beautiful women (talented people); simultaneous emergence of many talents and achievements; hundred flowers blooming in profusion; a gathering of many beautiful women (talented people)

落花狼藉

らっかろうぜき

running amok; committing violence on; in utter disorder; running amok

桜花爛漫

おうからんまん

riot of cherry blossoms; riot of cherry blossoms

落花流水

らっかりゅうすい

mutual love; the love one shows to another person being returned; mutual love

花紅柳緑

かこうりゅうりょく

red blossoms and green willows; beautiful scenery of spring; natural beauty; red blossoms and green willows

花鳥諷詠

かちょうふうえい

the beauties of nature and the harmony that exists between it and man (as the key poetic theme of a haiku); the beauties of nature and the harmony that exists between it and man (as the key poetic theme of a haiku)

鏡花水月

きょうかすいげつ

flowers reflected on a mirror and the moon reflected on the water's surface; something that is visible but having no substance; the subtle and profound beauty of poems that cannot be described in words; flowers reflected on a mirror and the moon reflected on the water's surface

槿花一日

きんかいちじつ

evanescent glory; passing prosperity; evanescent glory

槿花一朝

きんかいっちょう

evanescent glory; passing prosperity; evanescent glory

錦上添花

きんじょうてんか

adding a crowning touch of beauty (to); giving added luster (to); crowning beauty (honor, grace) with even greater glory; adding a crowning touch of beauty (to)

羞月閉花

しゅうげつへいか

the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; (so beautiful that) the moon is abashed and flowers wilt; the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman

飛花落葉

ひからくよう

scattering of the blossoms and falling of the leaves; the impermanence of worldly things; scattering of the blossoms and falling of the leaves

閉月羞花

へいげつしゅうか

charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; great beauty; (so beautiful that) the moon hides and flowers are abashed; charms of a uniquely beautiful woman

柳暗花明

りゅうあんかめい

beautiful scenery of spring; red-light district; beautiful scenery of spring

柳巷花街

りゅうこうかがい

red-light district; pleasure quarter; red-light district

柳緑花紅

りゅうりょくかこう

red blossoms and green willows; beautiful scenery of spring; natural beauty; red blossoms and green willows

春花秋月

しゅんかしゅうげつ

spring flowers and the autumn moon; beauty of nature as it changes from season to season; spring flowers and the autumn moon

落花啼鳥

らっかていちょう

the poetic feeling of a late spring scene (with flowers scattering and birds chirping); the poetic feeling of a late spring scene (with flowers scattering and birds chirping)

羞花閉月

しゅうかへいげつ

the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; (so beautiful that) flowers are abashed and the moon hides; the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman

借花献仏

しゃっかけんぶつ

winning favor or influence using someone else's property; plagiarism; presenting the Buddha with borrowed flowers; winning favor or influence using someone else's property

Proverbs & Idioms

花より団子

はなよりだんご

Dumplings over flowers

Preferring substance over style

Poetry

和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

花の色は うつりにけりな いたづらに わが身世にふる ながめせしまに

Poem #9 from Hyakunin Isshu

小野小町Ono no Komachi
9th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

心あてに 折らばや折らむ 初霜の おきまどはせる 白菊の花

Poem #29 from Hyakunin Isshu

凡河内躬恒Ōshikōchi no Mitsune
10th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

ひさかたの 光のどけき 春の日に しづ心なく 花の散るらむ

Poem #33 from Hyakunin Isshu

紀友則Ki no Tomonori
10th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

人はいさ 心も知らず ふるさとは 花ぞ昔の 香に匂ひける

Poem #35 from Hyakunin Isshu

紀貫之Ki no Tsurayuki
10th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

もろともに あはれと思へ 山桜 花よりほかに 知る人もなし

Poem #66 from Hyakunin Isshu

前大僧正行尊Saki no Daisōjō Gyōson
11th century
和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

花さそふ 嵐の庭の 雪ならで ふりゆくものは わが身なりけり

Poem #96 from Hyakunin Isshu

入道前太政大臣Nyūdō Saki no Daijō-daijin
13th century