1.
sunflower
A tall plant with large yellow flowers that turn to follow the sun.
When I planted sunflower seeds in the garden, many flowers bloomed in summer.
The name 向日葵 literally says 'facing the sun' (日 + 向く + 葵), after the way young plants track the 太陽. Usually written ヒマワリ in botanical contexts and ひまわり in everyday writing.
Common collocations
Compounds
- 向日葵畑 (sunflower field, a summer sightseeing destination)
- 向日葵の種 (sunflower seeds, sold as a snack and as birdseed)
- ひまわり油 (sunflower oil)
Cultural note
The flower stands for 夏 itself, and for brightness and energy; it is a stock image in school art and summer advertising. Large planted fields such as those in 北海道 draw tourists in August. The name ひまわり is also widely used for nursery schools, clinics, and welfare services, where the sunny associations are the point.