みかん

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. みかんは冬の果物です。▶ —
   Mikan is a winter fruit.
2. こたつでみかんを食べます。▶ —
   I eat mikan under the kotatsu.

Collocations

Mnemonic

蜜柑 mikan — kanji "honey (蜜) + citrus (柑)" = sweet citrus. Korean shares the same kanji as milgam. A cornerstone of Japanese winter food culture: the こたつ (kotatsu, low heated table) + mikan combo defines winter iconography. New Year family gatherings invariably stack mikan in a mountain. 温州みかん (unshuu mikan, satsuma mandarin) is Japan's flagship cultivar — named after Chinese Wenzhou but actually bred and refined in Japan. The word compresses winter culture, family architecture, and agricultural history.

Quick check

1. What does "kotatsu de mikan" symbolize in Japanese culture?

   • Cozy winter at home — heated table + vitamin-C fruit as a seasonal ritual
   • A cheap meal combo
   • Rural-only scene
   • One specific holiday