{"id":26991,"date":"2022-05-04T15:00:13","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T15:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/?p=26991"},"modified":"2023-05-12T12:53:29","modified_gmt":"2023-05-12T12:53:29","slug":"japanese-words-about-nature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/japanese-words-about-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrate Greenery Day with Japanese words about nature"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greenery Day, or <\/span>Midori no Hi <\/span><\/i>\u307f\u3069\u308a\u306e\u65e5, is a national holiday in Japan that\u2019s celebrated on May 4 as part of Golden Week. This is a public holiday dedicated to nature, so what better way to recognise it than to learn some Japanese words about nature!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"people<\/p>\n

History of Greenery Day<\/b><\/h2>\n

This public holiday was originally a celebration of the Sh\u014dwa emperor\u2019s birthday on April 29. When Emperor Akihito ascended the throne in 1989, it changed from the former emperor\u2019s birthday to today\u2019s Midori no Hi to reflect the Sh\u014dwa emperor\u2019s love of plants.<\/span><\/p>\n

Greenery Day is a part of <\/span>Golden Week<\/span><\/a>, one of Japan\u2019s biggest holiday periods.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to celebrate Midori no Hi<\/b><\/h2>\n

As mentioned, this holiday is part of Golden Week so it is often met with joy and fun since many people take time off to travel and\/or spend time with family. Different people celebrate in different ways, with some partaking in planting trees, while others might spend some time outdoors at the park.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Infographic<\/p>\n

Japanese words for nature<\/b><\/h2>\n

Just like there is a vast list of words in English for the things in our natural world, there are also just as many words in Japanese. For the purposes of this article, we will explore some words describing parts of the physical world that you will see most often in Japan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
English<\/b><\/td>\nKanji<\/b><\/td>\nKana<\/b><\/td>\nRomaji<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nature<\/span><\/td>\n\u81ea\u7136<\/span><\/td>\n\u3057\u305c\u3093<\/span><\/td>\nShizen<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Landscape<\/span><\/td>\n\u666f\u8272<\/span><\/td>\n\u3051\u3057\u304d<\/span><\/td>\nKeshiki<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mountain<\/span><\/td>\n\u5c71<\/span><\/td>\n\u3084\u307e<\/span><\/td>\nYama<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Volcano<\/span><\/td>\n\u706b\u5c71<\/span><\/td>\n\u304b\u3056\u3093<\/span><\/td>\nKazan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Forest<\/span><\/td>\n\u68ee<\/span><\/td>\n\u3082\u308a<\/span><\/td>\nMori<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tree<\/span><\/td>\n\u6728<\/span><\/td>\n\u304d<\/span><\/td>\nKi<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Flower\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n\u82b1<\/span><\/td>\n\u306f\u306a<\/span><\/td>\nHana<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grass<\/span><\/td>\n\u8349<\/span><\/td>\n\u304f\u3055<\/span><\/td>\nKusa<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
River<\/span><\/td>\n\u5ddd<\/span><\/td>\n\u304b\u308f<\/span><\/td>\nKawa<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lake<\/span><\/td>\n\u6e56<\/span><\/td>\n\u307f\u305a\u3046\u307f<\/span><\/td>\nMiz\u016bmi<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ocean<\/span><\/td>\n\u6d77<\/span><\/td>\n\u3046\u307f<\/span><\/td>\nUmi<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hot springs<\/span><\/td>\n\u6e29\u6cc9<\/span><\/td>\n\u304a\u3093\u305b\u3093<\/span><\/td>\nOnsen<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Valley<\/span><\/td>\n\u8c37<\/span><\/td>\n\u305f\u306b<\/span><\/td>\nTani<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/h2>\n

Words to describe nature<\/b><\/h2>\n

Mountainous
<\/b>\u5c71\u306e\u591a\u3044
<\/b>Yama no <\/span>\u014d<\/span><\/i>i<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:
<\/span>\u65e5\u672c\u306f\u5c71\u306e\u591a\u3044\u56fd\u3067\u3059
<\/b>Japan is a mountainous country.
<\/span>Nihon ha yama no <\/span>\u014d<\/span><\/i>i kuni desu.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blooming
<\/b>\u958b\u82b1
<\/b>\u304b\u3044\u304b
<\/span>Kaika<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Example:
<\/span>\u4eca\u5e74\u3001\u685c\u306f\u65e9\u3081\u306b\u958b\u82b1\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Kotoshi, sakura wa hayameni kaika desu.<\/span><\/i>
<\/span>The cherry blossoms are blooming early this year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Full bloom
<\/b>\u6e80\u958b
<\/b>\u307e\u3093\u304b\u3044
<\/span>Mankai<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Example:
<\/span>\u685c\u306e\u82b1\u304c\u6e80\u958b\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Sakura no hana ga mankai desu.
<\/span><\/i>The cherry blossoms are in full bloom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Panoramic
<\/b>\u5168\u666f
<\/b>\u305c\u3093\u3051\u3044
<\/span>Zenkei<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Example:
<\/span>\u6771\u4eac\u30b9\u30ab\u30a4\u30c4\u30ea\u30fc\u304b\u3089\u6771\u4eac\u306e\u5168\u666f\u304c\u898b\u3048\u307e\u3059\u3002
<\/span>T\u014dky\u014d Sukaitsur\u012b kara t\u014dky\u014d no zenkei ga miemasu.
<\/span><\/i>You can see a panoramic view of Tokyo from Sky Tree.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scenic\/picturesque
<\/b>\u58ee\u89b3
<\/span>\u305d\u3046\u304b\u3093
<\/span>S\u014dkan<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Example:
<\/span>\u58ee\u89b3\u306a\u666f\u8272
<\/span>S\u014dkan na keshiki
<\/span><\/i>Spectacular scenery.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lush
<\/b>\u9752\u3005
<\/b>\u3042\u304a\u3042\u304a
<\/span>Aoao
<\/span><\/i>(Often: \u9752\u3005\u3068\u3057\u3066)<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:
<\/span>\u6625\u306b\u306a\u308b\u3068\u68ee\u306f\u9752\u3005\u3068\u3057\u3066\u304f\u308b\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Haru ni naru to mori wa aoao toshite kuru desu.
<\/span><\/i>In spring, the forest becomes lush.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dry
<\/b>\u4e7e\u71e5
<\/b>\u304b\u3093\u305d\u3046
<\/span>Kans\u014d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Example:
<\/span>\u7802\u6f20\u306f\u4e7e\u71e5\u3057\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Sabaku wa kans\u014d shite imasu.
<\/span><\/i>Deserts are dry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overgrown
<\/b>\u8302\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b
<\/b>\u3057\u3052\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b
<\/span>Shigette iru<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:
<\/span>\u3053\u306e\u5c71\u306f\u6728\u304c\u8302\u3063\u3066\u3044\u308b\u3002
<\/span>Kono yama wa ki ga shigette iru.
<\/span><\/em>This mountain is thick with trees.
<\/span>(=there are many trees in this mountain)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u5915<\/b>\u713c\u3051
<\/b>\u3086\u3046\u3084\u3051
<\/span>Y<\/span>\u016byake<\/span><\/i>
<\/span>The red sunset sky<\/span><\/p>\n

Example:
<\/span>\u4eca\u65e5\u306e\u5915\u713c\u3051\u306f\u3068\u3066\u3082\u304d\u308c\u3044\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Ky\u014d no y\u016byake wa totemo kirei desu.
<\/span><\/i>Today\u2019s sky is nice and red.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"person<\/p>\n

Uniquely nature-related words in Japanese<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are some words in Japanese that might not have an exact translation or word in your own language. Here are some nature-related ones!<\/span><\/p>\n

K\u014dy\u014d <\/b>\u7d05\u8449<\/b><\/h3>\n

This word refers to the colours that leaves turn when autumn sets in. The word itself is made up of the kanji for \u201cred\u201d <\/span>\u7d05 and \u201cleaf\u201d \u8449. <\/span>The reds, oranges and yellows can set entire mountainsides on fire (figuratively). Seeing k\u014dy\u014d is a highly anticipated event of the year and just like cherry blossom season, people travel all over the country to see the <\/span>very best autumn foliage<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kogarashi \u6728\u67af\u3089\u3057<\/b><\/h3>\n

This means \u201ccold wintry wind\u201d and specifically refers to the first cold wind you feel at the end of autumn that indicates winter is coming. The kanji is made up of the words for \u201ctree\u201d \u6728 and \u201cto dry up\u201d \u67af.<\/span><\/p>\n

Komorebi <\/b>\u6728\u6f0f\u308c\u65e5<\/b><\/h3>\n

Meaning \u201csunlight filtering through trees\u201d. This poetic word represents the dappling effect of sunlight that shines through a forest full of trees. Isn\u2019t it beautiful!<\/span><\/p>\n

Shinrinyoku \u68ee\u6797\u6d74<\/b><\/h3>\n

Another beautifully poetic word, this means \u201cforest bath\u201d. It refers to \u201cbathing\u201d in the peacefulness and fresh air of the forest and reflects the connection between nature and human happiness and wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Experience nature in Japan with Go! Go! Nihon<\/b><\/h2>\n

Living and studying in Japan is the best way to learn Japanese and to experience Japanese culture and way of life. <\/span>Contact us<\/span><\/a> if you want to be studying in Japan by the time the next Greenery Day comes along!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greenery Day, or Midori no Hi \u307f\u3069\u308a\u306e\u65e5, is a national holiday in Japan that\u2019s celebrated on May 4 as part of Golden Week. This is a public holiday dedicated to nature, so what better way to recognise it than to learn some Japanese words about nature! History of Greenery Day This public holiday was originally […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":26175,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[404],"tags":[698,669],"class_list":["post-26991","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learn-japanese","tag-japanese-lessons","tag-nature"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26991","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26991"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26991\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26991"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26991"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26991"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}