サクランボ

さくらんぼ
noun
cherry (fruit)
food
1. cherry (fruit)
The small, round, red fruit of the cherry tree, eaten fresh or used in desserts. In Japan, cherries from Yamagata Prefecture are particularly famous.
サクランボを食(た)べた。
I ate some cherries.
サクランボの木(き)に赤(あか)い実(み)がたくさんなった。
The cherry tree is loaded with red fruit.
山形(やまがた)県(けん)はサクランボの産地(さんち)として有名(ゆうめい)だ。
Yamagata Prefecture is famous as a cherry-producing region.

サクランボ refers to the edible cherry fruit, distinct from the ornamental 桜(さくら) (cherry blossom) trees.

Writing

Usually written in katakana. The kanji 桜桃(さくらんぼ) exists but is rarely used. The variant さくらんぼう is also heard but less common.

Cultural note

山形(やまがた)県(けん) produces about 70% of Japan's cherries and is synonymous with the fruit. Cherry-picking (サクランボ狩(が)り) is a popular seasonal activity in June-July.

Common collocations

  • サクランボ狩(が)り: cherry picking
  • 佐藤錦(さとうにしき): Satou Nishiki (Japan's most prized cherry variety)
  • サクランボの木(き): cherry tree (fruit-bearing variety)

Usage

The 桜(さくら) trees famous for 花見(はなみ) (cherry blossom viewing) are ornamental varieties that typically do not produce edible fruit.

Related Words

Related: 桜(さくら) (cherry tree/blossom)
general
Added 2026.2.11 21:59 · Revised 2026.10.12 9:24
10500/10905_sakuranbo