{"id":27002,"date":"2026-03-11T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/?p=27002"},"modified":"2026-03-11T10:34:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T01:34:19","slug":"japanese-spring-vocabulary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/blog\/japanese-spring-vocabulary\/","title":{"rendered":"Grow your Japanese spring vocabulary with these seasonal words"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spring is, without a doubt,<\/span> the most popular time of year in Japan. The weather is warming up, the flowers are starting to bloom, and <\/span>pastel spring-themed snacks are making their way into cafes and <\/span>convenience stores<\/span><\/a>. It\u2019s also the perfect time to sit under a cherry blossom tree, have a hanami<\/a> picnic, and learn or brush up on some Japanese spring vocabulary.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some common Japanese spring vocabulary words you\u2019ll see associated with the season.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6625 (H<\/b>aru)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spring.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6625\u3089\u3057\u304f\u306a\u3063\u3066\u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u306d\u3002
<\/span>Haru rashiku natte kimashita ne.
<\/span><\/i>It\u2019s starting to look like spring.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Tokyo<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u685c (Sakura)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cherry blossoms. Maybe the single most common piece of Japanese spring vocabulary you’ll hear this season<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u685c\u306f\u672c\u5f53\u306b\u304d\u308c\u3044\u3067\u3059\u3088\u3002
<\/span>Sakura wa hont\u014d ni kirei desu yo.
<\/span><\/i>The cherry blossoms are really beautiful.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u82b1 (Hana)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Flower.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flowers are a huge part of spring in Japan, and there are many festivals celebrating other flowers aside from cherry blossoms. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6625\u306b\u306f\u305f\u304f\u3055\u3093\u306e\u82b1\u304c\u54b2\u304d\u59cb\u3081\u307e\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Haru niwa takusan no hana ga sakihajimemasu.
<\/span><\/i>In spring, many flowers start to bloom. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u591c\u685c (Yozakura)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cherry blossoms at night.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To maximize the cherry blossom experience, some parks<\/a> (link in Japanese) offer night-time viewings of sakura where they light up the trees after dark. It offers a completely different vibe to the daytime and a chance for all the night owls to also appreciate cherry blossoms.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6628\u65e5\u3001\u4ed5\u4e8b\u306e\u5f8c\u306b\u591c\u685c\u3092\u898b\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u3057\u305f\u3002
<\/span>Kin\u014d, shigoto no ato ni yozakura wo mini ikimashita.
<\/span><\/i>I went to view cherry blossoms after work last night.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Japanese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6885 (Ume)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Plum.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plum is another Japanese spring vocabulary word you will see many places. Plum blossoms commonly bloom around the same time or slightly earlier than cherry blossoms. They might look very similar, but if you look carefully, they don\u2019t have the split at the end of their petals like cherry blossoms do. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6885\u306e\u82b1\u306f\uff13\u6708\u306b\u54b2\u304d\u307e\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Ume no hana wa sangatsu ni sakimasu.
<\/span><\/i>Plum blossoms bloom in March.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u82b1\u898b (Hanami)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Flower viewing. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going to a hanami picnic is a true highlight for anyone experiencing spring in Japan. It\u2019s an extremely popular way to celebrate spring and spend time with friends, family, or colleagues. Top cherry blossom locations<\/a> are so popular that you\u2019ll need to be quick if you want to get some prime real estate under a blossoming cherry tree! <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4e00\u7dd2\u306b\u82b1\u898b\u306b\u884c\u304d\u307e\u305b\u3093\u304b\uff1f
<\/span>Issho ni hanami ni ikimasenka?
<\/span><\/i>Would you like to go flower viewing together?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6625\u306e\u5b63\u7bc0 (Haru no kisetsu)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Spring season.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6625\u306e\u5b63\u7bc0\u306f\u3060\u3044\u305f\u30443\u30f6\u6708\u9593\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Haru no kisetsu wa daitai san kagetsu kan desu.
<\/span><\/i>The spring season lasts for approximately three months.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Person<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6625\u5148 (Harusaki)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Early spring.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4eca\u65e5\u306f\u6625\u5148\u306e\u3088\u3046\u306a\u5929\u6c17\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Ky\u014d wa harusaki no y\u014d na tenki desu.
<\/span><\/i>The weather today is like early spring.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6625\u5206 (S<\/b>hunbun)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vernal equinox, which is the astrological start of spring. This is celebrated as a public holiday in Japan, as is the Autumnal equinox in September.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6625\u5206\u306e\u65e5\u306f\u5e74\u306b\u3088\u3063\u3066\u9055\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Shunbun no hi wa toshi ni yotte chigai masu.
<\/span><\/i>The vernal equinox is different depending on the year.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u958b\u82b1\u4e88\u60f3 (Kaikayos\u014d)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cherry blossom forecast. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

These forecasts are usually shared on the news and internet, detailing when people can expect to see cherry blossoms in full bloom. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u958b\u82b1\u4e88\u60f3\u306b\u3088\u308c\u3070, \u4eca\u5e74\u306e\u685c\u306e\u958b\u82b1\u306f\u5e73\u5e74\u3088\u308a\u65e9\u304f\u306a\u308b\u3068\u3053\u308d\u304c\u591a\u3044\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Kaikayos\u014d ni yoreba, kotoshi no sakura no kaika wa heinen yori hayakunaru tokoro ga \u014di desu.
<\/span><\/i>According to the cherry blossom forecast, the cherry blossoms will bloom earlier than a normal year in many areas. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bright<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6e80\u958b (M<\/b>ankai)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Full bloom.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6771\u4eac\u3067\u306f\u3001\u685c\u304c\u6e80\u958b\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Tokyo dewa, sakura ga mankai desu.
<\/span><\/i>In Tokyo, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u685c\u5439\u96ea (S<\/b>akura fubuki)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blizzard of falling cherry blossoms.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Japanese spring vocabulary word is used to describe when the wind blows cherry blossom petals off the trees, making it look almost like pink snow. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4eca\u65e5\u306f\u98a8\u304c\u5f37\u3044\u306e\u3067\u685c\u5439\u96ea\u304c\u821e\u3063\u3066\u3044\u307e\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Ky\u014d wa kaze ga tsuyoi node sakura fubuki ga matte imasu.
<\/span><\/i>The wind is strong today, so a cherry blossom snowstorm is blowing.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Japanese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u82b1\u7c89\u75c7 (Kafunsh\u014d)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hay fever. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u79c1\u82b1\u7c89\u75c7\u306a\u3093\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Watashi kafunsh\u014d nan desu.
<\/span><\/i>I have hay fever.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about <\/span>how to deal with hay fever in Japan<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u5165\u793e\u5f0f (Ny\u016bsha shiki)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The entrance ceremony at the company. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Job-hunting for university students begins before they graduate and is known as \u201c<\/span>sh\u016bshoku<\/span><\/i> katsud\u014d \u5c31\u8077\u6d3b\u52d5\u201d, or \u201c<\/span>sh\u016bkatsu<\/span><\/i> \u5c31\u6d3b\u201d for short. It\u2019s a huge process that results in new graduates starting their jobs all at the same time in April. Therefore, it\u2019s common for companies to hold a ceremony to welcome their new starters, and it’s good Japanese spring vocabulary to learn for international students who want to work in Japan after graduation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u4eca\u65e5\u306f\u5165\u793e\u5f0f\u3067\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Ky\u014d wa ny\u016bsha shiki desu.
<\/span><\/i>Today is the entrance ceremony at my company.<\/span> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also a school version called <\/span>\u5165\u5b66\u5f0f (Ny\u016bgaku shiki)<\/b> at the start of each school year in April.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u65b0\u751f\u6d3b (Shin seikatsu)<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A new life. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring in Japan is heavily associated with new beginnings, new life, and a fresh start. It\u2019s the start of the new fiscal year and school year, while also bringing in a sense of hope for what\u2019s to come.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

E.g. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u6625\u304b\u3089\u3001\u6771\u4eac\u3067\u65b0\u751f\u6d3b\u304c\u59cb\u307e\u308a\u307e\u3059\u3002
<\/span>Haru kara Tokyo de shin seikatsu ga hajimari masu.
<\/span><\/i>My new life will begin in Tokyo this spring.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about spring in Japan<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We love spring in Japan and everything it offers. <\/span>If you’re interested to learn Japanese in Japan and experience the cherry blossoms and spring season, contact us<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liked learning Japanese spring vocabulary? Check out other <\/b>language articles<\/b><\/a> on our blog.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spring is, without a doubt, the most popular time of year in Japan. The weather is warming up, the flowers are starting to bloom, and pastel spring-themed snacks are making their way into cafes and convenience stores. It\u2019s also the perfect time to sit under a cherry blossom tree, have a hanami picnic, and learn […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":117,"featured_media":26246,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[404],"tags":[698,666],"class_list":["post-27002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learn-japanese","tag-japanese-lessons","tag-language"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27002","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\/117"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27002"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27002\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gogonihon.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}