花
flower
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
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)
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
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
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
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
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
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
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