葉
leaf · plane · lobe · needle · blade · spear · counter for flat things · fragment · piece
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
grass + 枼
Cultural Context
Etymology
Combines 'grass' (艹) with 'flat/thin' (枼), depicting the thin, flat parts of plants—leaves. Also carries meanings of generation and era.
Symbolism
Symbolizes growth, seasonal change, and life's cycle. Fallen leaves represent endings, new buds represent beginnings in nature's rhythm.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Leaves falling
Seasonal
Symbolizes both fresh green leaves April-May and autumn colors October-November. Represents seasonal change.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
枝葉末節
しようまっせつ
unimportant details; inessentials; unimportant details
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
金枝玉葉
きんしぎょくよう
member of the Imperial family; royalty; beautiful clouds; member of the Imperial family
言葉の綾
ことばのあや
The weave of words; A figure of speech
Poetry
このたびは ぬさもとりあへず 手向山 紅葉のにしき 神のまにまに
Poem #24 from Hyakunin Isshu
小倉山 峰のもみぢ葉 心あらば 今ひとたびの みゆき待たなむ
Poem #26 from Hyakunin Isshu
山川に 風のかけたる しがらみは 流れもあへぬ 紅葉なりけり
Poem #32 from Hyakunin Isshu
あらし吹く み室の山の もみぢ葉は 竜田の川の 錦なりけり
Poem #69 from Hyakunin Isshu
夕されば 門田の稲葉 おとづれて 葦のまろやに 秋風ぞ吹く
Poem #71 from Hyakunin Isshu
村雨の 露もまだひぬ まきの葉に 霧立ちのぼる 秋の夕暮れ
Poem #87 from Hyakunin Isshu