When you learn basic Japanese, you learn that the word for the seasons is kisetsu in Japanese. There are only four seasons so Fuyu – winter, Haru – spring, Natsu – summer and here – autumn / autumn does not take a long time to learn. But when you’re done learning the names of the seasons, did you know that Japanese has a rich vocabulary of seasonal words, called ‘kigo’? In this article, we will introduce some of the best known. kigo or seasonal words and those used in spring and autumn.

The word’kigo’ It is made up of two Chinese characters, with the readings ‘ki’ and ‘go’. ‘Ki’ comes from the word for station, ‘kisetsu’so means season and go means language, as in nihongo (Japanese language), so kigo means seasonal language. There are many season-related words that use ‘ki’, which is the reading of one of the Chinese characters in ‘kisetsu’. shiki It is made up of shi (four) and ki (season), that is, the four seasons. Kisetsufuu means seasonal wind (kisetsu and fuu for wind). Kikan combines the character for season (read ki) and kan (meaning print) to indicate seasonal publication or four times a year. Kimatsu means end of season.

The Japanese word for spring is Haru. There are many words related to spring weather and they begin with Haru. Haruichiban combines the word spring (Haru) with the word for number one (ichiban), together and haruichiban means the first gale of spring. Other spring words related to the weather include harukaze, which means spring breeze, harusame What does spring rain mean? harumek it has become spring, and harugasumi spring mist. Of course, spring in Japan is famous for the beautiful blossoms of the peach and cherry trees. The blooming of peach blossoms (ume) mark the beginning of spring. Cherry blossoms (sakura) and see the cherry blossoms (hanami) are a popular family or group activity in spring. The word for autumn or autumn in Japanese is here. Many foods are in season and taste best in the fall.

The expression “Aki no shokuyoku” is often used in autumns and means ‘autumn appetite.’ Words related to autumn weather include akikaze autumn Wind, akiguchi which means early autumn, but interestingly enough it literally means mouth of autumn, and ‘akigare no hello‘perfect fall day. The Autumn Festival (akimatsuri) is a thanksgiving for the harvest. In the fall, many people head to the mountains to watch the beautiful red, yellow and orange colors of the leaves change. kouyou is the word for this period.