Nihongo Online School

Japanese online school

Tips for More Effective Studying

Nihongo Online School > Tips for More Effective Studying > 4 Seasons in Japanese: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter

4 Seasons in Japanese: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter

2024/10/13

Director: Kotaro Muramoto
Principal of Nihongo Online School
In September 2019, he founded "Nihongo Online School". Since then, has been teaching Japanese online lessons, with a total of over 1,000 students.
He has designed an individualized curriculum based on student’s needs and study goal. And is conscious of making the classes speech-centered in order to improve students’ speaking skills.
The school asks students to submit homework assignments worth 2 hours per lesson to improve faster. By supporting students with these features, students are able to efficiently improve Japanese language skills.

In Japan, there are four seasons in a year, and Japan has many different seasonal traditions, each with its distinct differences.

In this article, we would like to introduce 4 different seasonal traditions that will make you imagine that “This is Japan!”

4 seasons in the Japanese language

Here is the vocabulary for 4 seasons in the Japanese language.

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
SeasonsKisetsu季節(きせつ)
4 seasons (to emphasize changing seasons or to express 1 year)Shunkashutou春夏秋冬(しゅんかしゅうとう)
SpringHaru春(はる)
SummerNatsu 夏(なつ)
Fall or AutumnAki 秋(あき)
WinterFuyu冬(ふゆ)

Spring in Japanese: 春 (Haru)

Spring(春、はる)is the beginning of the season. In Tokyo, the temperature increases to around 20℃(68°F) and the cherry blossoms bloom when everyone starts their brand new start in their school and work.

It’s also a great season to look at flowers blooming in various places.

Here are some spring vocabularies in Japanese.

Related to Spring

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Warmatatakai暖かい(あたたかい)
Fresh greensshinryoku新緑(しんりょく)
Spring breezeharu kaze春風(はるかぜ)
Spring equinoxshunbun春分(しゅんぶん)

Flower/Tree

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Cherry blossomsakura桜(さくら)
Cherry blossom at nightyozakura夜桜(よざくら)
Cherry blossom viewinghanami花見(はなみ)
Full bloom (of the cherry blossom)mankai満開(まんかい)
Plum blossomume梅(うめ)
Cherry treesakura no ki桜の木(さくらのき)
Dandeliontanpopo蒲公英(たんぽぽ)
Cherry blossom forecastkaika yosō開花予想(かいかよそう)

Pollen

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Pollenkafun花粉(かふん)
Japanese cedarsugi杉(すぎ)
Running nosehanamizu鼻水(はなみず)
SneezeKushamiくしゃみ
To tickleIgaigasuruいがいがする

School/Company

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
EntranceNyuugaku入学(にゅうがく)
Entrance ceremonynyuugakushiki入学式(にゅうがくしき)
First semestershingakki新学期(しんがっき)
Graduationsotsugyou卒業(そつぎょう)
Company entrance nyūsha 入社(にゅうしゃ)
Training Kenshuu研修(けんしゅう)
New graduateShinsotsu新卒(しんそつ)
New lifeshin seikatsu新生活(しんせいかつ)
Spring holidayHaruyasumi春休み(はるやすみ)

Food/Drink

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Bamboo ShootsTakenokoたけのこ
Strawberriesichigoいちご
Green tearyokucha緑茶(りょくちゃ)
Spring Cabbageharukyabetsu春キャベツ(はるきゃべつ)
New Potatoshinjaga新じゃが(しんじゃが)
Ropeseed blossomsnanohana菜の花(なのはな)
Japanese mochi with red bean paste sakuramochi桜餅(さくらもち)

 Event

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Warmatatakai暖かい(あたたかい)
Hinamatsurihinamatsuri雛祭り(ひなまつり)
Golden Weekgōruden wīkuゴールデンウィーク
Children’s Daykodomo no hiこどもの日(こどものひ)

Summer in Japanese: 夏 (Natsu)

Japan’s hot summer (夏、Natsu) begins at around 25℃ (77°F), goes through the rainy season, and increases to around 35℃ (95°F). 

The sounds of the cicadas give you the summer vibes. Japanese enjoy going to the riverside to enjoy BBQ and fishing, or going to summer festivals and watching beautiful fireworks.

Here are some summer vocabularies in Japanese.

Related to Summer

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Hot daymōsho猛暑(もうしょ)
Summer solsticegeshi夏至(げし)
Heatstrokenetsuchūshō熱中症(ねっちゅうしょう)
Midsummermanatsu真夏(まなつ)
Summer greeting card, giftsyochumimai暑中見舞い(しょちゅうみまい)
Rainy seasontsuyu梅雨(つゆ)

Beach

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Seasidekaigan海岸(かいがん)
Beachbīchiビーチ
Sunburnhiyake日焼け(ひやけ)
Oceanumi海(うみ)

Event

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Fireworkshanabi花火(はなび)
Fireworks displayhanabi taikai花火大会(はなびたいかい)
Summer festivalnatsumatsuri夏祭り(なつまつり)
Campingkyanpuキャンプ
Obon festivalobonお盆(おぼん)

Food/Drink

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Watermelonsuika西瓜(すいか)
Barbecuebābekyūバーベキュー
Ice creamaichikurīmuアイスクリーム
shaved icekakigōriかき氷
Summer vegetablesnatsuyasai夏野菜(なつやさい)
Ramune drinkramuneラムネ(らむね)

 Other

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Cicadasemi蝉(せみ)
Morning gloryasagao朝顔(あさがお)
Sunflowerhimawari向日葵(ひまわり)
Fanuchiwa団扇(うちわ)
Insect repellentkayoke蚊除け(かよけ)
JinbeiJinbeiじんべい
Yukatayukata浴衣(ゆかた)
Wind chimesfuurin風鈴(ふうりん)

Fall or Autumn in Japanese: 秋 (Aki)

Fall or Autumn (秋、あき) is one of the best time to visit mountains and parks for its stunning autumn views. 

Japanese people often mention 「〜の秋(〜のあき, a season of~)」 、referring as a great season to enjoy excursions and food.

The temperature decreases from around 25℃ (77°F) to 17℃ (62.6°F) to prepare for the winter.

Here are some fall/ autumn vocabularies in Japanese.

Fall or Autumn-related terms

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Autumn colorsakiiro秋色(あきいろ)
Cool breezekōkaze涼風(こうかぜ)
Autumn equinoxshūbun秋分(しゅうぶん)

Fall or Autumn viewing

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Maple leafmomiji紅葉(もみじ)
Autumn foliagekōyō紅葉(こうよう)
Fallen leavesochiba落ち葉(おちば)
Acorndonguriどんぐり
Ginkgo treeichō銀杏(いちょう)
Squirrelrisuリス

Event

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Moon viewingtsukimi月見(つきみ)
Halloweenharouinハロウィン
Japanese celebration for turning  3, 5 or 7Shi-chi-go-san七五三
Full moonjuugoya十五夜(じゅうごや)

 Food/Drink

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Mushroomkinokoきのこ
Grilled fishyakizakana焼き魚(やきざかな)
Pumpkinkabocha南瓜(かぼちゃ)
Persimmonkaki柿(かき)
Chestnutkuri栗(くり)

Winter in Japanese: 冬 (Fuyu)

Winter(冬、ふゆ) temperature drops around 6℃ (42.8°F), and -7℃ (19.4°F) in regions such as Hokkaido.

It snows and it’s a great time to enjoy winter sports. 

Japanese also celebrate the new year on 1st January and will spend New Year’s eve and New Year together with their family. 

There are a few different traditions to go through to pray for each of our health and happiness.

Here are some winter vocabularies in Japanese.

New Year

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
New Yearshōgatsu正月(しょうがつ)
New Year’s eveoomisoka大晦日(おおみそか)
First sunrisehatsuhinode初日の出(はつひので)
New Year’s cardnengajō年賀状(ねんがじょう)
Osechi-ryoriosechi ryōriおせち料理(おせちりょうり)
Kagami mochikagami mochi鏡餅(かがみもち)
Hatsumodehatsumode初詣(はつもうで)
New Year’s resolutionshinnen no chikai新年の誓い(しんねんのちかい)
Otoshidamaotoshidamaお年玉(おとしだま)
Mochi poundingmochitsuki餅つき(もちつき)
Zōnizōni雑煮(ぞうに)
New Year’s belljoya no kane除夜の鐘(じょやのかね)
Toshikoshi sobatoshikoshi soba年越し蕎麦(としこしそば)
Nengōnengō年号(ねんごう)
Fukubukurofukubukuro福袋(ふくぶくろ)

Other

EnglishRomajiKanji (Hiragana)
Winter solsticetōji冬至(とうじ)
Winter vacationfuyū yasumi冬休み(ふゆやすみ)
Snowyuki雪(ゆき)
Snowmanyukidaruma雪だるま(ゆきだるま)
Skiingsukīスキー
Frozen lakekōrin氷湖(ひょうこ)
Sledgingsoriソリ
Snowfallyukioroshi降雪(こうせつ)
Hot potnabe鍋(なべ)

More to Learn? Come to Nihongo Online School!

We offer online private Japanese language courses for people who love to study Japanese at their own pace.

As Japanese teachers, we are happy to explain the Japanese culture and the tradition behind every keyword and teach how to use them in real life.

We are waiting for your new journey with us!