1.
March (traditional Japanese calendar name)
The traditional Japanese name for the third month of the year. Part of the old Japanese calendar month naming system (和風月名) that is still used in formal, literary, and cultural contexts.
弥生の空は明るい。
The March sky is bright.
弥生に入り、春の気配が感じられる。
Now that March has arrived, one can sense the signs of spring.
手紙の冒頭に「弥生の候」と書いた。
I wrote 'in this season of March' at the beginning of the letter.
2.
Yayoi period (c. 300 BCE–300 CE)
A major period in Japanese prehistory characterized by the introduction of wet-rice agriculture, metalworking, and new pottery styles from the Asian continent.
弥生時代に稲作が始まった。
Rice cultivation began in the Yayoi period.
弥生土器は縄文土器より薄くて硬い。
Yayoi pottery is thinner and harder than Jomon pottery.
この遺跡からは弥生時代の青銅器が出土した。
Bronze artifacts from the Yayoi period were excavated from this archaeological site.
The word 弥生 has deep cultural significance in Japan. As a month name, it evokes the image of plants beginning to grow abundantly as spring arrives. Also commonly used as a female given name.
ETYMOLOGY:
From いやおい (increasingly growing), referring to vegetation flourishing in spring. Over time shortened to やよい.
TRADITIONAL MONTH NAMES:
- 睦月: January
- 如月: February
- 弥生: March
- 卯月: April
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 弥生時代: the Yayoi period
- 弥生土器: Yayoi pottery
- 弥生文化: Yayoi culture
- 弥生の候: seasonal greeting for March (in formal letters)
CULTURAL NOTE:
The Yayoi period is named after the 弥生町 district in Tokyo where characteristic pottery was first discovered in 1884.