1.
cherry blossom
The flower of the cherry tree.
桜が咲いた。
The cherry blossoms bloomed.
桜を見に行く。
To go see cherry blossoms.
桜が散り始めた。
The cherry blossoms started falling.
桜の下で花見をした。
We had a flower-viewing party under the cherry blossoms.
満開の桜は美しい。
Cherry blossoms in full bloom are beautiful.
2.
cherry tree
A tree that produces cherry blossoms.
公園に桜がたくさんある。
There are many cherry trees in the park.
庭に桜を植えた。
I planted a cherry tree in the garden.
この桜は百年も生きている。
This cherry tree has lived for a hundred years.
桜の木の下でお弁当を食べた。
We ate our lunch under the cherry tree.
川沿いに桜が並んでいる。
Cherry trees line the riverside.
桜 refers to both the cherry tree and its blossoms. It is Japan's unofficial national flower and deeply embedded in the culture.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- 桜が咲く: cherry blossoms bloom
- 桜が散る: cherry blossoms fall/scatter
- 桜並木: row of cherry trees
- 桜吹雪: flurry of falling petals
CULTURE:
- 花見: cherry blossom viewing, a spring tradition of picnicking under the trees
- 桜前線: the cherry blossom front, tracked on weather forecasts as it moves north from late March to May
- 満開: full bloom, the peak viewing period
SYMBOLISM:
Cherry blossoms symbolize the beauty and transience of life. The brief blooming period connects to the aesthetic of 儚さ (fleeting beauty).
NOTE: When 花 (flower) appears alone in classical or poetic contexts, it often refers specifically to cherry blossoms.