Translation and Meaning of: 園 - sono

The Japanese word 園 [その] is a simple term, but with a quite specific and useful meaning in daily life. If you are studying Japanese or just curious about the language, understanding the use and origin of this expression can be an important step. In this article, we will explore its meaning, how it is written in kanji, examples of use, and even some cultural curiosities involving this word. All this so that you can learn in a clear and practical way.

Moreover, the 園 [その] is a word that appears in various contexts, from everyday conversations to names of places and institutions. If you've seen this writing somewhere and were in doubt, this text will help clarify everything. Here at Suki Nihongo, our goal is to provide accurate and relevant information for those who want to truly master Japanese.

Meaning and usage of 園 [その]

The term 園 [その] means "garden," "park," or "reserved area," depending on the context. It is often used in the names of public places, such as playgrounds (幼稚園 [ようちえん] - kindergarten) or botanical gardens (植物園 [しょくぶつえん]). The word carries an idea of a defined and cared-for space, often associated with nature or education.

It is worth highlighting that, although 園 can appear alone, it is more common to see it in compound words. For example, 動物園 [どうぶつえん] means "zoo," while 庭園 [ていえん] refers to a traditional landscaped garden. This versatility makes the term quite useful for those learning Japanese vocabulary.

Origin and writing of the kanji 園

The kanji 園 is composed of the radical 囗 (which indicates a limit or enclosure) and the component 袁 (which historically refers to something elongated or extensive). Together, they reinforce the idea of a fenced and organized space, like a garden or park. This construction effectively reflects the practical meaning of the word in the Japanese language.

In terms of reading, 園 has two main pronunciations: "sono" (as in その) and "en" (as in 公園 [こうえん] - public park). The first is used when the kanji appears isolated or in certain compounds, while the second is more common in already established words. Knowing this difference helps avoid mistakes when reading or writing.

Trivia and memorization tips

An effective way to memorize the kanji 園 is to associate it with the image of a walled garden. The radical 囗 resembles a fence, while the rest of the character can be imagined as plants or trees within that space. This simple visualization helps to retain both the meaning and the writing.

In Japan, it is common to find 園 in the names of schools and early childhood education institutions, emphasizing the idea of a protected place dedicated to growth. If you have watched anime or Japanese dramas, you have probably heard terms like 保育園 [ほいくえん] (nursery) or 学園 [がくえん] (school/academy). These uses show how the word is rooted in culture and everyday life.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 公園 (Kōen) - Public park
• 庭園 (Teien) - Garden, often ornamental
• 保育園 (Hoikuen) - Daycare or kindergarten
• 遊園地 (Yūenchi) - Amusement park
• 動物園 (Dōbutsuen) - Zoo
• 花園 (Hanazono) - Flower garden
• 学園 (Gaku-en) - Educational institution, usually a campus
• 植物園 (Shokubutsuen) - Botanical garden
• 神社の境内 (Jinja no keidai) - Inner area of a Shinto shrine
• 神社の敷地 (Jinja no shikichi) - Ground of a Shinto shrine
• 寺院の境内 (Ji-in no keidai) - Inner area of a Buddhist temple
• 寺院の敷地 (Ji-in no shikichi) - Land of a Buddhist temple
• 墓地の敷地 (Bochi no shikichi) - Cemetery plot
• 墓地の境内 (Bochi no keidai) - Interior area of a cemetery
• 町の中心部 (Machi no chūshinbu) - City center
• 街の中心部 (Machi no chūshinbu) - Heart of the city with the most urbanization
• 駅前広場 (Ekimae hiroba) - Square in front of the train station
• 駅前広場の公園 (Ekimae hiroba no kōen) - Park in the square in front of the train station
• 駅前広場の庭園 (Ekimae hiroba no teien) - Garden in the square in front of the train station

園

Romaji: sono
Kana: その
Type: noun
L: -

Translation / Meaning: garden; park; plantation

Meaning in English: garden;park;plantation

Definition: "Garden", as used in parks, zoos, botanical gardens, etc., refers to lands and facilities created to protect, manage, and exhibit plants and animals for a specific purpose or destination.

Example Sentences - (園) sono

See below some example sentences:

私は毎日通り過ぎる公園が大好きです。

Watashi wa mainichi toorisugiru kouen ga daisuki desu

I love the park that I pass every day.

I love the park that passes every day.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 毎日 (mainichi) - adverb meaning "every day"
• 通り過ぎる (toorisugiru) - verb meaning "to pass by"
• 公園 (kouen) - noun that means "park"
• が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "park"
• 大好き (daisuki) - adjective meaning "very loved"
• です (desu) - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite form of the sentence

私は毎朝公園で走る。

Watashi wa maiasa kōen de hashiru

I run every morning in the park.

I run in the park every morning.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that marks the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 毎朝 (maiasa) - adverb meaning "every morning"
• 公園 (kouen) - noun that means "park"
• で (de) - particle indicating the place where the action takes place, in this case, "in the park"
• 走る (hashiru) - verb meaning "to run"

私は公園でピクニックをするのが好きです。

Watashi wa kōen de pikunikku o suru no ga suki desu

I like to make picnic in the park.

I like picnics in the park.

• 私 (watashi) - signifies "I" in Japanese
• は (wa) - topic particle in Japanese, used to indicate the subject of the sentence
• 公園 (kouen) - means "park" in Japanese
• で (de) - location particle in Japanese, used to indicate where something happens
• ピクニック (pikunikku) - Japanese word for "picnic"
• を (wo) - object particle in Japanese, used to indicate the direct object of the sentence
• する (suru) - Japanese verb meaning "to do"
• のが (noga) - Japanese particle indicating that the phrase is an expression of preference
• 好き (suki) - Japanese adjective meaning "to like"
• です (desu) - linking verb in Japanese, used to indicate the formality of the sentence

私は毎日通りかかる公園が大好きです。

Watashi wa mainichi toorikakaru kouen ga daisuki desu

I love the park that I pass every day.

I love the parks that go every day.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun meaning "I".
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I".
• 毎日 - Japanese adverb meaning "every day".
• 通りかかる - Japanese verb meaning "to pass by".
• 公園 - Japanese noun meaning "park".
• が - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "park".
• 大好き - Japanese adjective meaning "much loved" or "adored."
• です - Japanese linking verb that indicates the formality of the sentence, in this case, "is".

私たちの家は公園に面しています。

Watashitachi no ie wa kōen ni menshite imasu

Our house faces the park.

Our house faces the park.

• 私たちの - 私たち
• 家 - "house" in Japanese
• は - Japanese topic particle
• 公園 - "parque" in Japanese
• に - Location particle in Japanese
• 面しています - "facing" in Japanese

私の家の近くには美しい公園があります。

Watashi no ie no chikaku ni wa utsukushii en ga arimasu

There is a beautiful park near my house.

There is a beautiful park near my house.

• 私の家の近くには - "Near my house"
• 美しい - "bonito"
• 公園があります - "There is a park"