Kana Kanji

Learn Kanji

A Beautiful Guide to Advanced Japanese

Lesson 9: 花 (Flower)

Radicals in 花

The kanji 花 (hana, meaning "flower") is a character that evokes beauty and nature. It is classified under the 艸 (grass) radical, linking it to the plant world.

  • 艸 (Grass Radical): The top part, Radical 140 (simplified as ⺈ in some forms), represents grass or plants, indicating that a flower is a type of vegetation.
  • 化 (Change Radical): The bottom part, derived from Radical 21 (匕, spoon) and Radical 9 (人, person), means "to change" or "transform," suggesting the blossoming or transformation of a plant into a flower.

Visually, 花 combines the lushness of plants (艸) with the idea of transformation (化), depicting a flower as a beautiful evolution of nature—a lovely symbol of growth and bloom. Fun fact: Its design reflects the fleeting yet striking beauty of flowers, a common theme in Japanese culture.

Examples of 花 in Use

Here are some common words and phrases using 花:

花 (hana)

Meaning: Flower

Hiragana: はな

Example: 花が咲いた。
(Hana ga saita.)
"The flowers bloomed."

花壇 (kadan)

Meaning: Flower bed

Hiragana: かだん

Example: 花壇に花を植える。
(Kadan ni hana o ueru.)
"I plant flowers in the flower bed."

花火 (hanabi)

Meaning: Fireworks

Hiragana: はなび

Example: 花火を見に行った。
(Hanabi o mi ni itta.)
"I went to see fireworks."

桜花 (ōka)

Meaning: Cherry blossom

Hiragana: おうか

Example: 桜花が美しい。
(Ōka ga utsukushii.)
"The cherry blossoms are beautiful."

花束 (hanataba)

Meaning: Bouquet

Hiragana: はなたば

Example: 花束を贈った。
(Hanataba o okutta.)
"I gave a bouquet."

花見 (hanami)

Meaning: Flower viewing

Hiragana: はなみ

Example: 花見を楽しむ。
(Hanami o tanoshimu.)
"I enjoy flower viewing."

花瓶 (kabin)

Meaning: Vase

Hiragana: かびん

Example: 花瓶に花を入れる。
(Kabin ni hana o ireru.)
"I put flowers in the vase."

花園 (hanazono)

Meaning: Flower garden

Hiragana: はなぞの

Example: 花園を歩く。
(Hanazono o aruku.)
"I walk in the flower garden."

花言葉 (hanakotoba)

Meaning: Language of flowers

Hiragana: はなことば

Example: 花言葉を調べる。
(Hanakotoba o shiraberu.)
"I look up the language of flowers."

野花 (nohana)

Meaning: Wildflower

Hiragana: のはな

Example: 野花を摘む。
(Nohana o tsumu.)
"I pick wildflowers."

The kanji 花 embodies the delicate and vibrant essence of flowers, celebrating their role in nature and culture as symbols of beauty and transformation.