春

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 春になると桜が咲きます。▶ —
   When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom.
2. 春休みに旅行する予定です。▶ —
   I plan to travel during spring break.

Collocations

Mnemonic

はる — 春, Yamato. The start of Japan's four seasons and the social-cycle reset point. Where Korea and China begin the school year in March or September, Japan starts in April — the new school term, new fiscal year, and new corporate cohort all bundle into a single month. The cultural code 'April = a new start' is strongest in Japan among the East Asian countries. The seasonal vocabulary moves almost in lockstep with 桜 sakura (cherry blossom) ── 桜が咲く sakura ga saku (cherry blossoms bloom), 散る chiru (scatter), 花見 hanami (blossom viewing). 春一番 haruichiban (the first strong southerly storm after risshun) is a fixture of weather reports. A sound trap: haru is also the verb 貼る (to paste) — the kanji disambiguates. The Korean reading chun is sister to the onyomi しゅん.

Quick check

1. Which does NOT start in April in Japan?

   • New school term / new hires / fiscal year
   • Cherry blossom bloom begins
   • Beginning of winter
   • Spring break leading to Golden Week (late April to early May)