花 火(はなび)

はなび

noun

fireworks

1. fireworks

Explosive devices that produce colorful lights and sounds for entertainment, popular at summer festivals in Japan.

夏(なつ)になると、あちこちで花火(はなび)大会(たいかい)が開(ひら)かれる。

When summer comes, fireworks festivals are held all over the place.

海岸(かいがん)で手持(てもち)ち花火(はなび)をした。

We played with sparklers at the beach.

手持(てもち)ち花火(はなび) = handheld fireworks, sparklers

花火(はなび)が夜空(よぞら)に美(うつく)しく咲(さ)いた。

The fireworks bloomed beautifully in the night sky.

Fireworks are often described as 'blooming' (咲(さ)く) like flowers

今年(ことし)も花火(はなび)大会(たいかい)に行(い)こう。

Let's go to the fireworks festival this year too.

遠(とお)くから花火(はなび)の音(おと)が聞(き)こえた。

I could hear the sound of fireworks from far away.

花火(はなび) literally means 'flower fire' because fireworks resemble flowers blooming in the sky.

Types of fireworks:

打(う)ち上(あ)げ花火(はなび) (aerial fireworks)
手持(てもち)ち花火(はなび) (handheld fireworks, sparklers)
線香(せんこう)花火(はなび) (sparklers - thin, delicate type)

Common expressions:

花火(はなび)大会(たいかい) (fireworks festival)
花火(はなび)を上(あ)げる (to set off fireworks)
花火(はなび)を見(み)る (to watch fireworks)

Cultural note:
花火(はなび)大会(たいかい) are major 夏(なつ) events in Japan, with famous ones including the Sumida River Fireworks in Tokyo and the Lake Biwa Fireworks in Shiga.

core

Added 2026.1.13 20:59 · Revised 2026.2.3 12:05

00000/00087_hanabi