桜 – Kanji Spotlight
Cherry Blossoms
Today’s Kanji Spotlight is on 桜 (さくら), the cherry blossom. In this post, we’ll look at how it’s read, how it’s used in words and culture, and why it’s a kanji worth learning early in your studies.
The Importance
The kanji 桜 (さくら, sakura) is one you’ll see everywhere in Japan, from poetry and song titles to café menus and seasonal sweets. Learning it early helps you notice how often it appears in daily life and understand why it’s such a meaningful part of Japanese culture.
Cherry blossoms, or sakura, are among Japan’s most iconic symbols and are often considered the country’s unofficial national flower. They represent beauty, renewal, new beginnings, and the fleeting nature of life. The word sakura can refer to either the tree or the flower itself.
Sakura holds deep cultural significance, appearing throughout Japanese poetry, art, and festivals, as well as in modern pop culture, such as songs, brand names, and design. You’ll also find it in food, from traditional treats like sakuramochi to modern sweets like Sakura-flavored KitKats and Pocky.
One of the most well-known traditions is hanami (花見, はなみ), the custom of viewing cherry blossoms. Every spring, millions of people gather in parks to enjoy the fleeting beauty of sakura with friends and family. They spread picnic blankets, share food and drinks, and celebrate together under the blossoms. This tradition has existed for centuries, dating back to the Nara period (710–794), when people admired the plum blossoms (梅, うめ). By the Heian period (794–1185), the cherry blossom had become the primary flower celebrated in poetry and court culture, and the practice of viewing cherry blossoms remains deeply embedded in Japanese culture today.
If you remember, Japan’s school year and many companies’ fiscal years begin in April. In most parts of the main island of Honshu (本州, ほんしゅう), cherry trees are often in bloom around that time. This timing gives sakura an extra resonance as a symbol of fresh starts and new chapters.
Meaning
The kanji 桜 means cherry. It represents beauty, renewal, and the fleeting nature of life, themes that often appear in Japanese culture.
Reading
The kanji 桜 is most commonly read as さくら, its kunyomi (native Japanese) reading. When read as さくら, it refers to the cherry blossom or the cherry tree.
The onyomi readings オウ and ヨウ do exist, but they’re much less common in everyday vocabulary. As a learner, it’s best to focus on the common reading first. When you come across less frequent words like 桜花 (おうか; a more formal or poetic way to say “cherry blossom”), try to learn how to read the entire word rather than just memorizing the onyomi in isolation.
Writing
桜 has 10 strokes. The left side is the tree radical (木), which hints at its connection to nature. Practice writing it slowly to get used to the left-right balance and the final curved stroke on the right.
Compound words
Here are a few common and interesting words that use the kanji 桜.
桜もち
さくらもち
Sakuramochi is a traditional Japanese sweet made of pink-colored rice cake and sweet red bean paste, wrapped in a salted cherry leaf. It’s a popular spring treat often enjoyed during hanami.
桜花
おうか
A more formal or poetic way to say “cherry blossom. You might see it in songs, literature, or ceremonial expressions rather than everyday speech.
桜前線
さくらぜんせん
Literally “the cherry blossom front.” This phrase refers to the forecast line that shows how the blooming season moves northward across Japan each spring.
桜並木
さくらなみき
A “cherry tree-lined street.” It’s often used to describe scenic rows of cherry trees along roads, rivers, or in parks.
桜色
さくらいろ
“Cherry blossom color,” referring to the soft pink shade of sakura petals. The word is also used in fashion and design to describe gentle pastel pinks.
Example sentences
公園に桜があります。
こうえんにさくらがあります。
There are cherry trees in the park.
春に桜が咲いています。
はるにさくらがさいています。
The cherry blossoms bloom in spring.
桜はうすいピンクです。
さくらはうすいピンクです。
The cherry blossoms are a pale pink.
桜の花びらが風に飛んでいます。
さくらのはなびらがかぜにとんでいます。
The cherry blossom petals are flying in the wind.