Have you heard about the language of flowers? Do you know how to say the names of flowers in Japanese? What meanings do flowers have in Japan? In this article, we will see everything about Hanakotoba [花言葉] and the meaning of flowers in Japanese.
Flowers like sakura and chrysanthemum are national symbols of Japanese culture, and they hold great power in the beauty of the country and in the lives of the Japanese. In Japan, flowers are a traditional gift, for both men and women.
They are often used to convey what cannot be spoken. The language of flowers is known as Hanakotoba [花言葉] and is disappearing. Nowadays, many Japanese people do not know that flowers have traditional meanings.
However, the meanings of flowers make occasional appearances in modern popular culture, such as anime and manga. In this article, you will learn both the meaning of flowers and their pronunciation and writing in the Japanese language.
The image above shows a Japanese flower arrangement called Ikebana.
Table of Contents
Flowers in Japanese – Meaning of Flowers
Below we will provide a complete list of flowers in Japanese, followed by their writing in kana, their romanization, and finally their meaning. If you are on a mobile device, just swipe your finger over the table to move it and see it completely.
| Flower Name | Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
| Amaryllis | アマリリス | Amaririsu | Shy |
| Ambrosia | アムブロシアー | Amuburoshiā | Pious |
| pansy | パンジー | Panjī | Thoughtful, Caring |
| Anemone (White) | アネモネ | Anemone | Sincere |
| Aster tataricus | 紫苑 | Shion | Remembrance |
| Azalea | 躑躅 | Tsutsuji | Patient, Modest |
| Bluebell | ブルーベル | Burūberu | Grateful |
| Cactus | サボテン | Saboten | Lust, Sex |
| Camellia (Yellow) | 椿 | Tsubaki | Longing |
| Camellia (White) | 椿 | Tsubaki | Waiting |
| Camellia (Red) | 椿 | Tsubaki | Passionate, Dying gracefully |
| Carnation | カーネーション | Kānēshon | Fascination, distinction, and love |
| Chrysanthemum (Yellow) | 黄菊 | Kigiku | Imperial |
| Chrysanthemum (White) | 白菊 | Shiragiku | Truth |
| Dahlia | 天竺牡丹 | Tenjikubotan | Good taste |
| Edelweiss | エーデルワイス | Ēderuwaisu | Courage, Power |
| Heather | エリカ | Erika | Loneliness |
| Sweet Pea | スイートピー | Suītopī | Goodbye |
| Cherry Blossom | 桜 | Sakura | Type, Kind, Transience of Life |
| Freesia | フリージア | Furījia | Childish, Immature |
| Fritillaria camschatcensis | 黒百合 | Kuroyuri | Love, curse |
| Gardenia | 梔子 | Kuchinashi | Secret love |
| Sunflower | 向日葵 | Himawari | Respect, passionate love, splendor |
| Morning Glory | 朝顔 | Asagao | Voluntary promises |
| Habenaria radiata | 鷺草 | Sagisō | My thoughts will follow you in your dreams |
| Hibiscus | ハイビースカス | Haibīsukasu | □ Kind |
| Hydrangea | 紫陽花 | Ajisai | Pride |
| Iris | アイリス, 菖蒲 | Ayame | Good News, Good News, Loyalty |
| Jasmine | ジャスミン | Jasumin | Friendly, Graceful |
| Lavender | ラベンダー | Rabendā | Faithful |
| Lily (Orange) | 小百合 | Sayuri | Hatred, Revenge |
| Lily (White) | 白百合 | Shirayuri | Purity, Chastity |
| Red Spider Lily | 彼岸花 /曼珠沙華 | Higanbana /Manjushage | Never to meet again, Lost memory, Abandonment |
| Convallaria / Spider Lily | 鈴蘭/百合 | Suzuran/Yuri | Sweet |
| Lotus | 蓮華 | Renge | Far from the one he loves, Purity, Chastity |
| Honeysuckle | 忍冬 | Suikazura | Generous |
| Magnolia | マグノリア | Magunoria | Natural |
| Daisy | 雛菊 | Hinagiku | Faith |
| Forget-me-not | 勿忘草 | Wasurenagusa | True love |
| Narcissus | 水仙 | Suisen | Respect |
| Narcissus | 水仙 | Suisen | Self-esteem |
| Yellow Poppy | 芥子(黄) | Keshi(Ki) | Success |
| White Poppy | 芥子(白) | Keshi(Shiro) | Cheer |
| Red Poppy | 雛芥子 | Hinageshi | Fun-Loving |
| Peony | 牡丹 | Botan | Bravery |
| Primrose | 桜草 | Sakurasō | Desperate |
| Yellow Rose | 黄色薔薇 | Kiiroibara | Jealousy |
| White Rose | 薔薇 | Bara | Innocence, Silence, Devotion |
| Pink Rose | 桃色バラ | Momoirobara | Trust, Happiness, Confidence |
| Red Rose | 紅薔薇 | Benibara | Passionate love |
| Tiger Lily | 鬼百合 | Oniyuri | Wealth |
| Four-leaf Clover | (四つ葉の) クローバー | (Yotsuba no) kurōbā | For luck |
| Yellow Tulip | チューリップ | Chūrippu | Unrequited love |
| Red Tulip | チューリップ | Chūrippu | Fame, Charity, Trust |
| Verbena | 美女桜 | Bijozakura | Cooperative |
| Violet | 菫 | Sumire | Honesty |
| Mistletoe / Holly | 宿り木/ホーリー | Yadorigi/Hōrii | Seeking (Single and “-“) |
| Zinnia | 百日草 | Hyakunichisou | Fidelity |
Meaning of flowers – Japan vs. West
What do you think about briefly comparing the meaning of Japanese flowers with the meaning of flowers in the West? Are there differences? Check out our old list of hanakotoba before the update of this article.
Red Rose (Akaibara, 赤い薔薇) – Means romance just like the Western meaning.
White Rose (Shiroibara, 白い薔薇) – In Japan means Innocence, Devotion, and Silence. In the West, it means Virtue and Chastity.
Yellow Rose (Kiiroibara, 黄色い薔薇) – In Japan means Jealousy and Envy. In the West, it means Friendship and Devotion.
Pink Rose (Pinku no bara, ピンクの薔薇) – In Japan means Trust and Happiness. In the West, it means Grace, Elegance, and Delicacy.
Carnation (Kaneshon, カーネーション) – In Japan, carnations literally mean love, red carnations are a great gift for Mother’s Day. In the West, it depends on the color, red means romantic love, yellow means rejection.
Amaryllis (Amaririsu, アマリリス) – The Japanese meaning is “shy” while the Western meaning is “pride”.
Red Tulip (Akaichurippu, 赤いチューリップ) – In Japan means “Fame” while in the West it means eternal love.
Yellow Tulip (Kiiroichurippu, 黄色チューリップ) – In Japan means unrequited love while in the West it means the same thing, but also signifies an impossible love.
Primrose (Sakuraso, 桜草) – In Japan means despair, while in the West it means eternal love, pure friendship, and kindness.
Sweet Pea Flower (Suitopi, スイートピー) – In Japanese means Goodbye, a farewell.
Bluebell (Buruberu, ブルーベル) – Both in Japan and in the West means “Gratitude”.
Cactus Flower (saboten no hana, さぼてんの花) – In Japan means lust, while in the West it means maternal love.
Narcissus (Suisen, 水仙) – In Japan means “Respect” while in the West it means chivalry or unrequited love.
Camellia (Tsubaki 椿) – In Japan, the red Camellia means “Love” for the samurai it means “bad luck”. The yellow Camellia means Nostalgia. The White Camellia means “Waiting” and in the West both colors mean Excellence.
White Chrysanthemum (Shiragiku, 白菊) – In Japan means truth or sadness, it is the most common flower used at funerals. In the West, it means death and mourning.
Sakura – Meaning of Cherry Blossom [桜] [櫻]
Sakura (桜) literally means cherry blossom and is one of the main symbols of Japanese culture. The cherry blossom has such intense meaning and symbolism that it would require a long article to discuss it. But I will summarize:
The Cherry Blossom symbolizes female beauty and represents love, happiness, renewal, and hope. It also symbolizes clouds as they bloom en masse. The transience of flowers, their extreme beauty, and quick death have often been associated with mortality.
The sakura is a good luck charm and is also an emblem of love, affection, and represents spring. The Sakura Flower is divided into over 300 varieties of cherry trees, each referring to many different meanings.
The fruit of the cherry tree, the cherry, is considered the greatest symbol of sensuality, eroticism, and sexuality, mainly due to its intense red color. The sakura is so appreciated that every year during spring it is celebrated in a festival called Hanami.
Of course, there are countless meanings of Sakura and other flowers that have not been mentioned, otherwise, the article would turn into a book. I thank everyone who read the article and for the comments and shares. Which flower do you like the most?
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