牡丹(ぼたん)

ぼたん
noun
peony
plant-flower
1. peony
A flowering plant known for its large, showy, fragrant blossoms. Regarded as a symbol of wealth, beauty, and nobility in East Asian cultures. Blooms in late spring.
庭(にわ)に牡丹(ぼたん)が咲(さ)いた。
Peonies bloomed in the garden.
牡丹(ぼたん)は「花(はな)の王(おう)」と呼(よ)ばれている。
The peony is called the 'king of flowers.'
牡丹(ぼたん)の名所(めいしょ)として知(し)られるお寺(てら)を訪(おとず)れた。
I visited a temple known as a famous spot for peonies.

Usage

The kanji 牡丹(ぼたん) are standard but the word is sometimes written in hiragana or katakana. The peony has deep cultural significance in East Asia and appears frequently in traditional Japanese art, kimono patterns, and tattoo designs.

Cultural note

The saying 立(た)てば芍薬(しゃくやく)座(すわ)れば牡丹(ぼたん)歩(ある)く姿(すがた)は百合(ゆり)の花(はな) (standing she is a peony, sitting she is a tree peony, walking she is a lily) describes the ideal beauty of a woman. 牡丹(ぼたん)鍋(なべ) is a hot pot made with wild boar meat, named for the way the sliced meat is arranged to resemble peony petals.

Common collocations

  • 牡丹(ぼたん)の花(はな): peony blossom
  • 牡丹(ぼたん)園(えん): peony garden
  • 牡丹(ぼたん)鍋(なべ): wild boar hot pot
  • 牡丹(ぼたん)雪(ゆき): large, fluffy snowflakes

Related Words

Compare: 芍薬(しゃくやく) ((Chinese) peony)
general
Added 2026.2.24 22:29 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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