1.
young leaves; fresh green leaves; new foliage
Newly sprouted leaves in spring or early summer, typically bright green and tender.
若葉が芽吹いた。
Young leaves have sprouted.
若葉の緑がまぶしい。
The green of the young leaves is dazzling.
五月になると、山は若葉で美しく彩られる。
In May, the mountains are beautifully colored with fresh green leaves.
A compound of 若い (young) and 葉 (leaf). A seasonal word strongly associated with late spring and early summer.
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
若葉 is a 季語 (seasonal word) for early summer in haiku. The sight of fresh green leaves is celebrated in Japanese culture as a symbol of vitality and renewal. 若葉マーク is also used informally to mean a beginner's mark — the green and yellow V-shaped sticker that new drivers must display.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 若葉が茂る — young leaves grow thick
- 若葉の季節 — the season of fresh green leaves
- 若葉マーク — beginner's mark (for new drivers)
RELATED TERMS:
- 新緑 — fresh greenery; the broader concept of spring/early summer foliage
- 青葉 — green leaves; mature green foliage, slightly later in season
- 紅葉 — autumn leaves; the seasonal counterpart