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夏
On'yomi
カ・ガ・ゲ
KA / GA / GE
Kun'yomi
なつ
natsu
summer
nature
Details
Strokes10
Frequency#659
Radical夊go slowly(3)
Stroke Order
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Strokes10
Cultural Context
Etymology
Shape of person dancing with mask. Summer festival dance.
Symbolism
Summer, heat, vitality. Symbolizes Japanese summer festival culture.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Bustling summer festival
Seasonal
Season from June to August. Symbolizes vitality, passion, dynamism. Time of fireworks, festivals, swimming. In haiku, represents heat and life force.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
夏炉冬扇
かろとうせん
summer fires and winter fans; useless things; summer fires and winter fans
春夏秋冬
しゅんかしゅうとう
spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter; the four seasons; spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter
Poetry
和歌（百人一首） (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))
春すぎて 夏来にけらし 白妙の 衣ほすてふ 天の香具山
Poem #2 from Hyakunin Isshu
持統天皇Empress Jitō
7th century和歌（百人一首） (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))
夏の夜は まだ宵ながら 明けぬるを 雲のいづこに 月やどるらむ
Poem #36 from Hyakunin Isshu
清原深養父Kiyohara no Fukayabu
10th century和歌（百人一首） (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))
風そよぐ ならの小川の 夕暮れは みそぎぞ夏の しるしなりける
Poem #98 from Hyakunin Isshu
従二位家隆Junii Ietaka
13th century