たんぽぽ
たんぽぽ
noun
dandelion
1.
dandelion
A common weed with yellow flowers that turn into white fluffy seed heads.
たんぽぽの綿毛を吹く。
To blow dandelion fluff.
春になるとたんぽぽが咲く。
Dandelions bloom in spring.
庭にたんぽぽがたくさん生えている。
Many dandelions are growing in the garden.
たんぽぽ is the Japanese word for dandelion, a common spring flower.
KANJI:
Can be written as 蒲公英, but hiragana is far more common in everyday use.
PARTS OF THE PLANT:
- 花: the yellow flower
- 綿毛: the fluffy white seed head
- 茎: stem
- 葉: leaves (jagged, edible)
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- たんぽぽが咲く: dandelions bloom
- たんぽぽの綿毛を吹く: to blow dandelion seeds
CULTURAL NOTE:
Blowing dandelion seeds (綿毛を飛ばす) while making a wish is a popular childhood activity in Japan, similar to Western cultures.
USES:
Dandelion leaves and roots are used in some traditional medicines and herbal teas (たんぽぽ{茶/{コーヒー}}).