初春(しょしゅん)

しょしゅん
noun
early spring; beginning of spring; New Year
time-seasonnature
1. early spring; beginning of spring
The early part of the spring season, roughly February to March, when the first signs of warmer weather appear.
初春(しょしゅん)の風(かぜ)がここちよい。
The early spring breeze feels pleasant.
初春(しょしゅん)の候(こう)、梅(うめ)の花(はな)がほころび始(はじ)めた。
In the early spring season, plum blossoms have begun to open.
初春(しょしゅん)のころは朝晩(あさばん)まだ冷(ひ)え込(こ)むので、暖(あたた)かい服装(ふくそう)を心(こころ)がけてください。
In early spring it's still cold mornings and evenings, so please dress warmly.
2. New Year; the first month of the year
A formal reference to the New Year period, reflecting the traditional calendar in which spring and the new year coincided. Used in seasonal greetings and letters.
初春(しょしゅん)のお慶(よろこ)びを申(もう)し上(あ)げます。
I extend my congratulations on the New Year.
初春(しょしゅん)を祝(いわ)う行事(ぎょうじ)が各地(かくち)で行(おこな)われた。
New Year celebrations were held in various places.
初春(しょしゅん)の挨拶(あいさつ)として、年賀状(ねんがじょう)に一言(ひとこと)添(そ)えるのが日本(にほん)の習慣(しゅうかん)です。
It is a Japanese custom to add a word of New Year greeting to New Year's cards.

A seasonal word with two related meanings. Combines 初(しょ) (first, beginning) and 春(しゅん) (spring).

Usage

  • Sense 1 refers to the early part of the spring season (roughly February to March)
  • Sense 2 is used in formal greetings for the New Year, reflecting the traditional calendar where the new year began in spring
  • Can also be read はつはる, especially in poetry and traditional contexts, where it more strongly evokes New Year
  • Common in formal letters, seasonal greetings, and literary writing

Common collocations

  • 初春(しょしゅん)の候(こう): early spring season (formal letter opening)
  • 初春(しょしゅん)のお慶(よろこ)び: New Year congratulations
  • 初春(しょしゅん)の光(ひかり): light of early spring

Similar words

  • 早春(そうしゅん): early spring — similar meaning but without the New Year connotation
  • 新春(しんしゅん): new spring, New Year — more focused on the New Year meaning
  • 立春(りっしゅん): first day of spring — a specific date in the traditional calendar (around February 4)

Related Words

Compare: 新春(しんしゅん) (new spring, New Year)
Compare: 立春(りっしゅん) (first day of spring)
Compare: 仲春(ちゅうしゅん) (mid-spring)
general
Added 2026.4.3 7:10 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:31
21500/21709_shoshun