Details
Description
Flower - grass transformed into something beautiful, and the heart of hanami, where beauty is loved for being brief.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of '艹' (grass) and '化' (change). Grass transformed into something beautiful.
Symbolism
Beauty, transience, seasons. Symbolizes Japanese aesthetics seen in hanami culture.
Related Culture & Scenes
- — Garden with blooming flowers
Seasonal
Often refers to cherry blossoms, symbolizing spring March to April. Spring traditions like hanami and petal showers.
Component Breakdown
Grass + change
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
花鳥風月
かちょうふうげつ
beauties of nature; the traditional themes of natural beauty in Japanese aesthetics; artistic pursuits involving nature themes
百花斉放
ひゃっかせいほう
let a hundred flowers blossom; Hundred Flowers campaign
百花繚乱
ひゃっかりょうらん
a gathering of many beautiful women (talented people); simultaneous emergence of many talents and achievements; hundred flowers blooming in profusion
落花狼藉
らっかろうぜき
running amok; committing violence on; in utter disorder
桜花爛漫
おうからんまん
riot of cherry blossoms
落花流水
らっかりゅうすい
mutual love; the love one shows to another person being returned
花紅柳緑
かこうりゅうりょく
red blossoms and green willows; beautiful scenery of spring; natural beauty
花鳥諷詠
かちょうふうえい
the beauties of nature and the harmony that exists between it and man (as the key poetic theme of a haiku)
鏡花水月
きょうかすいげつ
flowers reflected on a mirror and the moon reflected on the water's surface; something that is visible but having no substance; the subtle and profound beauty of poems that cannot be described in words
槿花一日
きんかいちじつ
evanescent glory; passing prosperity
槿花一朝
きんかいっちょう
evanescent glory; passing prosperity
錦上添花
きんじょうてんか
adding a crowning touch of beauty (to); giving added luster (to); crowning beauty (honor, grace) with even greater glory
羞月閉花
しゅうげつへいか
the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; (so beautiful that) the moon is abashed and flowers wilt
飛花落葉
ひからくよう
scattering of the blossoms and falling of the leaves; the impermanence of worldly things
閉月羞花
へいげつしゅうか
charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; great beauty; (so beautiful that) the moon hides and flowers are abashed
柳暗花明
りゅうあんかめい
beautiful scenery of spring; red-light district
柳巷花街
りゅうこうかがい
red-light district; pleasure quarter
柳緑花紅
りゅうりょくかこう
red blossoms and green willows; beautiful scenery of spring; natural beauty
春花秋月
しゅんかしゅうげつ
spring flowers and the autumn moon; beauty of nature as it changes from season to season
落花啼鳥
らっかていちょう
the poetic feeling of a late spring scene (with flowers scattering and birds chirping)
羞花閉月
しゅうかへいげつ
the charms of a uniquely beautiful woman; (so beautiful that) flowers are abashed and the moon hides
借花献仏
しゃっかけんぶつ
winning favor or influence using someone else's property; plagiarism; presenting the Buddha with borrowed flowers
Proverbs & Idioms
花より団子
はなよりだんご
Dumplings over flowers
Preferring substance over style
Poetry
花の色は うつりにけりな いたづらに わが身世にふる ながめせしまに
The colour of the blossoms has faded, all for nothing, while I gazed at the long rains and my own beauty passed.
心あてに 折らばや折らむ 初霜の おきまどはせる 白菊の花
If I pick one it will be by guess alone — the first frost has fallen and I cannot tell it from the white chrysanthemums.
ひさかたの 光のどけき 春の日に しづ心なく 花の散るらむ
On a spring day when the light falls so gently, why should the blossoms scatter with such restless hearts?
人はいさ 心も知らず ふるさとは 花ぞ昔の 香に匂ひける
As for people, I cannot know their hearts — but in my old village the blossoms are fragrant as they always were.
もろともに あはれと思へ 山桜 花よりほかに 知る人もなし
Mountain cherry, feel for me as I feel for you. Here there is no one who knows me but your blossoms.
花さそふ 嵐の庭の 雪ならで ふりゆくものは わが身なりけり
What falls in this garden, where the storm strips the blossom, is not snow. It is myself, growing old.
Anime & Manga
あの日見た花の名前を僕達はまだ知らない。
Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day
A well-known work with 花 in its Japanese title.
五等分の花嫁
The Quintessential Quintuplets
A well-known work with 花 in its Japanese title.
地縛少年 花子くん
Toilet-bound Hanako-kun
A well-known work with 花 in its Japanese title.
五等分の花嫁∬
The Quintessential Quintuplets 2
A well-known work with 花 in its Japanese title.
薫る花は凛と咲く
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
A well-known work with 花 in its Japanese title.
Games
牧場物語
Story of Seasons(1996)
Developer: Marvelous
Slow-life RPG growing 'flowers' and crops on a farm.
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
後花園天皇
Name contains 花
Emperor Go-Hanazono was the 102nd emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Wikipedia立花誾千代
Name contains 花
Tachibana Ginchiyo was head of the Japanese Tachibana clan and onna-musha during the Sengoku period.
Wikipedia花子
Name contains 花
Hisa Ōta was a Japanese stage actress who spanned the Meiji and Taishō periods of Japan and was known by the name Hanako .
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
“flower”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 花 mean in Japanese?
花 means flower. Flower - grass transformed into something beautiful, and the heart of hanami, where beauty is loved for being brief.
How do you read 花?
On'yomi: カ、ケ (KA, KE). Kun'yomi: はな (hana).
How many strokes does 花 have?
花 has 7 strokes. Its radical is 艸 (grass).
Is 花 a good kanji for a tattoo?
花 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means flower. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:flower