七草(ななくさ)

ななくさ
noun
seven herbs (of spring)
foodplant-general
1. seven herbs of spring
A set of seven edible wild plants traditionally eaten in rice porridge on January 7th (七草(ななくさ)の節句(せっく)) to pray for good health in the new year. The seven herbs are: せり (water dropwort), なずな (shepherd's purse), ごぎょう (cudweed), はこべら (chickweed), ほとけのざ (henbit), すずな (turnip), and すずしろ (daikon radish).
一月(いちがつ)七日(なのか)に七草(ななくさ)がゆを食(た)べる。
We eat seven-herb rice porridge on January 7th.
スーパーで七草(ななくさ)セットを買(か)ってきた。
I bought a seven-herb set at the supermarket.
正月(しょうがつ)の食(た)べすぎで疲(つか)れた胃(い)を休(やす)めるために、七草(ななくさ)がゆを作(つく)った。
I made seven-herb porridge to rest my stomach after overeating during New Year's.

七草(ななくさ) usually refers specifically to the 春(はる)の七草(ななくさ) (seven herbs of spring), eaten on January 7th. There is also 秋(あき)の七草(ななくさ) (seven flowers of autumn), but this is for viewing, not eating.

Common collocations

Cultural note

  • The custom of eating 七草(ななくさ)がゆ on January 7th dates back to the Heian period
  • It serves both as a prayer for health and as a way to give the stomach a rest after rich New Year's food
  • Supermarkets sell pre-packaged 七草(ななくさ) sets in early January
general
Added 2026.2.15 9:20 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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