Blossom in Japanese
"blossom" in Japanese, with the kanji that carry the meaning.
花
hana
3 Japanese kanji carry the meaning "blossom". The most common choice is shown first.
Which one to use
桜 is the cherry tree and its blossom — the flower Japanese means by blossom unless told otherwise. 咲 is to bloom, the verb. 花 is a flower in general. Hanami, flower viewing, needs no further specification: it is cherry blossom.
Top pick
cherry blossom, sakura
Reading: ou
10 strokes · beautiful, nature, peaceful
Where it comes from
Composed of tree (木) and surround (嬰). Represents petals surrounding the tree. The old form 櫻 contains 嬰 with two shells, suggesting flowers strung together like a necklace.
What it carries
Spring, transience, Japanese beauty. Cherry blossom symbolizes Japanese culture and the fleeting beauty of life. Praised as 'of flowers, the cherry,' its graceful scattering is linked to bushido spirit.
Related kanji for "blossom"
blossom
shou · beautiful, nature
Composed of mouth and phonetic. Opening mouth to bloom.
blossom
ka · beautiful, nature
Composed of '艹' (grass) and '化' (change). Grass transformed into something beautiful.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for blossom?
The most common kanji for "blossom" is 桜, read as ou. It means cherry blossom, sakura. Related kanji: 咲 (blossom), 花 (blossom).
How many strokes does 桜 have?
桜 has 10 strokes.