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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
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!”
Contents
4 seasons in the Japanese language
Here is the vocabulary for 4 seasons in the Japanese language.
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Seasons | Kisetsu | 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) |
Spring | Haru | 春(はる) |
Summer | Natsu | 夏(なつ) |
Fall or Autumn | Aki | 秋(あき) |
Winter | Fuyu | 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
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Warm | atatakai | 暖かい(あたたかい) |
Fresh greens | shinryoku | 新緑(しんりょく) |
Spring breeze | haru kaze | 春風(はるかぜ) |
Spring equinox | shunbun | 春分(しゅんぶん) |
Flower/Tree
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Cherry blossom | sakura | 桜(さくら) |
Cherry blossom at night | yozakura | 夜桜(よざくら) |
Cherry blossom viewing | hanami | 花見(はなみ) |
Full bloom (of the cherry blossom) | mankai | 満開(まんかい) |
Plum blossom | ume | 梅(うめ) |
Cherry tree | sakura no ki | 桜の木(さくらのき) |
Dandelion | tanpopo | 蒲公英(たんぽぽ) |
Cherry blossom forecast | kaika yosō | 開花予想(かいかよそう) |
Pollen
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Pollen | kafun | 花粉(かふん) |
Japanese cedar | sugi | 杉(すぎ) |
Running nose | hanamizu | 鼻水(はなみず) |
Sneeze | Kushami | くしゃみ |
To tickle | Igaigasuru | いがいがする |
School/Company
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Entrance | Nyuugaku | 入学(にゅうがく) |
Entrance ceremony | nyuugakushiki | 入学式(にゅうがくしき) |
First semester | shingakki | 新学期(しんがっき) |
Graduation | sotsugyou | 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 graduate | Shinsotsu | 新卒(しんそつ) |
New life | shin seikatsu | 新生活(しんせいかつ) |
Spring holiday | Haruyasumi | 春休み(はるやすみ) |
Food/Drink
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Bamboo Shoots | Takenoko | たけのこ |
Strawberries | ichigo | いちご |
Green tea | ryokucha | 緑茶(りょくちゃ) |
Spring Cabbage | harukyabetsu | 春キャベツ(はるきゃべつ) |
New Potato | shinjaga | 新じゃが(しんじゃが) |
Ropeseed blossoms | nanohana | 菜の花(なのはな) |
Japanese mochi with red bean paste | sakuramochi | 桜餅(さくらもち) |
Event
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Warm | atatakai | 暖かい(あたたかい) |
Hinamatsuri | hinamatsuri | 雛祭り(ひなまつり) |
Golden Week | gōruden wīku | ゴールデンウィーク |
Children’s Day | kodomo 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
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Hot day | mōsho | 猛暑(もうしょ) |
Summer solstice | geshi | 夏至(げし) |
Heatstroke | netsuchūshō | 熱中症(ねっちゅうしょう) |
Midsummer | manatsu | 真夏(まなつ) |
Summer greeting card, gift | syochumimai | 暑中見舞い(しょちゅうみまい) |
Rainy season | tsuyu | 梅雨(つゆ) |
Beach
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Seaside | kaigan | 海岸(かいがん) |
Beach | bīchi | ビーチ |
Sunburn | hiyake | 日焼け(ひやけ) |
Ocean | umi | 海(うみ) |
Event
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Fireworks | hanabi | 花火(はなび) |
Fireworks display | hanabi taikai | 花火大会(はなびたいかい) |
Summer festival | natsumatsuri | 夏祭り(なつまつり) |
Camping | kyanpu | キャンプ |
Obon festival | obon | お盆(おぼん) |
Food/Drink
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Watermelon | suika | 西瓜(すいか) |
Barbecue | bābekyū | バーベキュー |
Ice cream | aichikurīmu | アイスクリーム |
shaved ice | kakigōri | かき氷 |
Summer vegetables | natsuyasai | 夏野菜(なつやさい) |
Ramune drink | ramune | ラムネ(らむね) |
Other
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Cicada | semi | 蝉(せみ) |
Morning glory | asagao | 朝顔(あさがお) |
Sunflower | himawari | 向日葵(ひまわり) |
Fan | uchiwa | 団扇(うちわ) |
Insect repellent | kayoke | 蚊除け(かよけ) |
Jinbei | Jinbei | じんべい |
Yukata | yukata | 浴衣(ゆかた) |
Wind chimes | fuurin | 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.
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Autumn colors | akiiro | 秋色(あきいろ) |
Cool breeze | kōkaze | 涼風(こうかぜ) |
Autumn equinox | shūbun | 秋分(しゅうぶん) |
Fall or Autumn viewing
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Maple leaf | momiji | 紅葉(もみじ) |
Autumn foliage | kōyō | 紅葉(こうよう) |
Fallen leaves | ochiba | 落ち葉(おちば) |
Acorn | donguri | どんぐり |
Ginkgo tree | ichō | 銀杏(いちょう) |
Squirrel | risu | リス |
Event
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Moon viewing | tsukimi | 月見(つきみ) |
Halloween | harouin | ハロウィン |
Japanese celebration for turning 3, 5 or 7 | Shi-chi-go-san | 七五三 |
Full moon | juugoya | 十五夜(じゅうごや) |
Food/Drink
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Mushroom | kinoko | きのこ |
Grilled fish | yakizakana | 焼き魚(やきざかな) |
Pumpkin | kabocha | 南瓜(かぼちゃ) |
Persimmon | kaki | 柿(かき) |
Chestnut | kuri | 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
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
New Year | shōgatsu | 正月(しょうがつ) |
New Year’s eve | oomisoka | 大晦日(おおみそか) |
First sunrise | hatsuhinode | 初日の出(はつひので) |
New Year’s card | nengajō | 年賀状(ねんがじょう) |
Osechi-ryori | osechi ryōri | おせち料理(おせちりょうり) |
Kagami mochi | kagami mochi | 鏡餅(かがみもち) |
Hatsumode | hatsumode | 初詣(はつもうで) |
New Year’s resolution | shinnen no chikai | 新年の誓い(しんねんのちかい) |
Otoshidama | otoshidama | お年玉(おとしだま) |
Mochi pounding | mochitsuki | 餅つき(もちつき) |
Zōni | zōni | 雑煮(ぞうに) |
New Year’s bell | joya no kane | 除夜の鐘(じょやのかね) |
Toshikoshi soba | toshikoshi soba | 年越し蕎麦(としこしそば) |
Nengō | nengō | 年号(ねんごう) |
Fukubukuro | fukubukuro | 福袋(ふくぶくろ) |
Other
English | Romaji | Kanji (Hiragana) |
Winter solstice | tōji | 冬至(とうじ) |
Winter vacation | fuyū yasumi | 冬休み(ふゆやすみ) |
Snow | yuki | 雪(ゆき) |
Snowman | yukidaruma | 雪だるま(ゆきだるま) |
Skiing | sukī | スキー |
Frozen lake | kōrin | 氷湖(ひょうこ) |
Sledging | sori | ソリ |
Snowfall | yukioroshi | 降雪(こうせつ) |
Hot pot | nabe | 鍋(なべ) |
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