Translation and Meaning of: 花 - hana

Etymology and Meaning of 「花」 (hana)

The word 「花」 (hana) means "flower" in Japanese. It is composed of two radicals: 艹 (kusa) which refers to "plant" or "grass," and 化 (ka), which carries the sense of "transformation." This combination symbolizes the natural transformation or development, which is characteristic of blooming. The kanji writing of 「花」 is used in both literal and figurative contexts, such as in expressions that symbolize beauty and ephemerality. The use of kanji simplifies the representation of complex concepts and activities related to nature, being not only practical but also poetic.

Uses and Contexts of the Word 「花」 (hana)

The word "花" (hana) is widely used in different contexts in the Japanese language. From descriptions of seasonal beauties, such as in hanami festivals (flower viewing), to poetic compositions symbolizing the brevity of life, the flower remains a powerful cultural symbol in Japan. This term often appears in names of specific flowers, such as "桜花" (ouka), which refers to cherry blossoms.

Cultural Origin and Symbolism

In Japan, flowers hold profound cultural significance, with festivals dedicated to observing and appreciating them. The Hanami festival, for example, celebrates the blooming of cherry blossoms in spring and is a moment for contemplation of beauty and the transient nature of life. Additionally, in Zen Buddhism, flowers are often associated with meditation and the ephemerality of the material world, reflecting the idea that everything is in constant change and transformation.

Furthermore, 「花」 (hana) has influenced the Japanese language in the use of idiomatic expressions. Expressions like 「花より団子」 (hana yori dango) — "rice dumplings instead of flowers" — reflect a preference for the practical over the aesthetic. This expression highlights how language can capture subtle critiques and social observations through metaphors involving flowers.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 華 (はな) - All right, flower.
• 花々 (はなばな) - Various flowers
• 花札 (はなふだ) - Japanese flower cards
• 花鳥風月 (かちょうふうげつ) - Beauty of nature with flowers, birds, wind, and moon
• 花束 (はなたば) - Bouquet of flowers
• 花火 (はなび) - Fireworks
• 花嫁 (はなよめ) - Noiva
• 花粉 (かふん) - Flower pollen
• 花瓶 (かびん) - Flower vase
• 花園 (はなぞの) - Flower garden
• 花梨 (かりん) - Flor de quinquna
• 花緒 (はなお) - Flower shortcuts (also a part of Japanese sandals)
• 花筏 (はないかだ) - Flower on the water
• 花魁 (おいらん) - Courtesan, often associated with flowers in Japanese culture.
• 花鳥 (かちょう) - Birds and flowers
• 花魂 (かこん) - Spirit of the flowers

花

Romaji: hana
Kana: はな
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5

Translation / Meaning: flower

Meaning in English: flower

Definition: A type of plant that produces beautiful flowers.

Example Sentences - (花) hana

See below some example sentences:

生ける花は美しいです。

Ikeru hana wa utsukushii desu

The living flowers are beautiful.

The vibrant flowers are beautiful.

• 生ける花 - ikeru hana (alive flower, flower arranged in a vase)
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - beautiful (pretty, nice)
• です - desu (verb to be)

火花が散る。

Hibana ga chiru

Sparks fly.

Sparks dispersion.

• 火花 - It means "spark" in Japanese.
• が - Grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
• 散る - It means "spread" or "disperse" in Japanese.

最も美しい花は桜です。

Saikō mo utsukushii hana wa sakura desu

The most beautiful flower is the cherry tree.

The most beautiful flower is cherry flowers.

• 最も - more
• 美しい - beautiful
• 花 - flower
• は - is
• 桜 - cherry blossom
• です - is (polite way of putting it)

所々に桜の花が咲いている。

Tokoro tokoro ni sakura no hana ga saite iru

The cherry blossoms are blooming here and there.

Cherry blossoms are blooming in some places.

• 所々に - indicates that something is spread out or distributed in various places
• 桜の花が - Cherry blossoms
• 咲いている - are blooming

嫋かな花が風に揺れる。

Noboroka na hana ga kaze ni yureru

The delicate flowers shake in the wind.

。 The flower shakes in the wind.

• 嫋かな - Delicate, graceful
• 花 - flower
• が - subject particle
• 風 - wind
• に - target particle
• 揺れる - swing, oscillate

優美な花が咲いている。

Yuumi na hana ga saite iru

Beautiful flowers are blooming.

An elegant flower is blooming.

• 優美な - adjective meaning "elegant" or "graceful"
• 花 - noun meaning "flower"
• が - Particle that marks the subject of the sentence
• 咲いている - verb meaning "to be blooming" or "to be in flower" in the present continuous tense

人造の花は美しいです。

Jinzou no hana wa utsukushii desu

Artificial flowers are beautiful.

Artificial flowers are beautiful.

• 人造の花 - It means "artificial flowers."
• は - topic particle, indicates that the subject of the sentence is "artificial flowers".
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• です - verb "to be" in the polite and formal form.

その花の色は鮮やかで美しいです。

sono hana no iro wa azayaka de utsukushii desu

The color of that flower is vibrant and beautiful.

The color of the flower is bright and beautiful.

• その - demonstrative pronoun meaning "that"
• 花 - noun meaning "flower"
• の - partícula que indica posse ou relação entre duas palavras
• 色 - noun that means "color"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 鮮やか - adjective that means "vibrant" or "intense"
• で - particle that indicates the means or way in which something is done
• 美しい - adjective meaning "beautiful" or "beautiful"
• です - verbo que indica a forma educada ou formal do presente

この花の匂いはとても良いです。

Kono hana no nioi wa totemo ii desu

The smell of this flower is very good.

The smell of this flower is very good.

• この - indica proximidade, neste caso, "este"
• 花 - It means "flower"
• の - particle that indicates possession, in this case, "da"
• 匂い - means "smell"
• は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "about"
• とても - adverb meaning "very"
• 良い - adjective meaning "good"
• です - Verb "to be" in the present tense

この花瓶は美しいですね。

Kono kabin wa utsukushii desu ne

Esta jarra é bonita

Este vaso é lindo.

• この - indica proximidade, neste caso, "este"
• 花瓶 - significa "vaso de flores"
• は - partícula de tópico, indica que o que vem depois é o assunto da frase
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• です - verb "to be" in the polite form
• ね - partícula de finalização que indica confirmação ou busca de concordância