Japanese Symbol for
桜sakura
cherry blossom · spring · beauty
Readings
Meaning
Cherry tree, cherry blossom. 桜 is Japan's national flower and one of the most culturally significant symbols in Japanese life — representing beauty, transience, renewal, and the bittersweet nature of life.
Example words
花見
hanami
cherry blossom viewing
桜前線
sakura zensen
cherry blossom front (weather forecast)
桜吹雪
sakura fubuki
cherry blossom blizzard (petals falling)
桜色
sakura-iro
cherry blossom pink
散る
chiru
to scatter, to fall (of petals)
満開
mankai
full bloom
桜 embodies 物の哀れ (mono no aware — the bittersweet beauty of transience). The blossoms last only about two weeks, making their beauty more precious. Weather services broadcast the 桜前線 (sakura zensen — cherry blossom front) tracking the bloom northward across Japan each spring. 花見 (hanami — blossom viewing) picnics are a national institution.
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