立夏(りっか)

りっか
noun
start of summer; first day of summer (solar term)
formaltime-generalnature
1. start of summer; beginning of summer (solar term)
One of the 24 solar terms (二十四節気) in the traditional East Asian calendar. Falls around May 5-6 in the modern calendar, marking the traditional beginning of summer.
今日(きょう)は立夏(りっか)だ。
Today is the start of summer.
立夏(りっか)を過(す)ぎると日差(ひざ)しが強(つよ)くなる。
After the start of summer, the sunlight gets stronger.
暦(こよみ)の上(うえ)では立夏(りっか)を迎(むか)えたが、まだ肌寒(はだざむ)い日(ひ)が続(つづ)いている。
Although the calendar says summer has begun, the chilly days continue.

One of the 24 solar terms (二十四節気(にじゅうしせっき)) that divide the year based on the sun's position. 立夏(りっか) falls around May 5-6 each year and marks the traditional beginning of summer, though actual temperatures in Japan at this time are still mild.

THE FOUR "BEGINNING" SOLAR TERMS:

Forms

立(りつ) (to stand, to begin) + 夏(か) (summer)

Usage

Often appears in weather forecasts and seasonal greetings. The phrase 暦(こよみ)の上(うえ)では立夏(りっか) ("according to the calendar it's the start of summer") acknowledges that the astronomical date doesn't always match actual weather conditions.

Common collocations

  • 立夏(りっか)を迎(むか)える: to reach the start of summer
  • 立夏(りっか)の候(こう): seasonal greeting for early May

Related Words

Related: 立春(りっしゅん) (beginning of spring)
Compare: 立秋(りっしゅう) (start of autumn)
Compare: 立冬(りっとう) (start of winter)
general
Added 2026.3.29 20:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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