日(ひ)の丸(まる)

ひのまる
noun
Hinomaru (Japanese national flag)
culture
1. the Hinomaru; the Japanese national flag
The national flag of Japan, featuring a red circle on a white background. The red circle represents the sun.
日(ひ)の丸(まる)が風(かぜ)に揺(ゆ)れている。
The Hinomaru is swaying in the wind.
オリンピックで日(ひ)の丸(まる)が掲(かか)げられた。
The Hinomaru was raised at the Olympics.
日(ひ)の丸(まる)の白(しろ)と赤(あか)は日本(にほん)を象徴(しょうちょう)する色(いろ)だ。
The white and red of the Hinomaru are colors that symbolize Japan.

日(ひ)の丸(まる) is the common everyday name for Japan's national flag, a red disc on a white background representing the sun. The name literally means "circle of the sun" — from 日(ひ) (sun) + の + 丸(まる) (circle).

Similar words

  • 日章旗(にっしょうき) — the formal name ("sun-emblem flag"), used in the 1999 flag law; 日(ひ)の丸(まる) is the everyday name

Cultural note

The Hinomaru has been used as a symbol of Japan for centuries. It was officially designated as the national flag in 1999 by the Act on National Flag and Anthem.

general
Added 2026.3.25 21:57 · Revised 2026.10.19 21:30
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