季語(きご)

きご
noun
seasonal word
1. seasonal word
A word or phrase associated with a particular season, used as a requirement in traditional haiku poetry.
俳句(はいく)には季語(きご)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
Haiku require a seasonal word.
桜(さくら)は春(はる)の季語(きご)です。
Cherry blossoms are a spring seasonal word.
季語(きご)を入(い)れないと俳句(はいく)にならない。
Without a seasonal word, it doesn't count as haiku.

季語(きご) is a word that indicates a specific season, required in traditional 俳句(はいく) (haiku) and 連歌(れんが) (linked verse).

SEASONAL CATEGORIES:

  • 春(はる) (spring): 桜(さくら), 梅(うめ), 花見(はなみ)
  • 夏(なつ) (summer): 蝉(せみ), 花火(はなび), 西瓜(すいか)
  • 秋(あき) (autumn): 紅葉(もみじ), 月(つき), 虫(むし)の声(こえ)
  • 冬(ふゆ) (winter): 雪(ゆき), 霜(しも), 炬燵(こたつ)

RELATED TERMS:

  • 歳時記(さいじき): seasonal almanac that catalogues 季語(きご)

Related Words

Related: 俳句(はいく)
general
Added 2026.2.3 9:29
09500/09561_kigo