立 春(りっしゅん)

りっしゅん

noun

beginning of spring; first day of spring

1. beginning of spring; first day of spring (in the traditional calendar)

One of the 24 solar terms in the traditional East Asian calendar, marking the start of spring. Falls around February 3-5 in the modern calendar. Despite the name, it is still cold in most of Japan at this time.

今日(きょう)は立春(りっしゅん)です。

Today is the first day of spring.

立春(りっしゅん)を過(す)ぎても寒(さむ)い日(ひ)が続(つづ)く。

Cold days continue even after the start of spring.

暦(こよみ)の上(うえ)では立春(りっしゅん)だが、まだまだ冬(ふゆ)の寒(さむ)さが残(のこ)っている。

On the calendar it's the start of spring, but the winter cold still lingers.

Composed of 立(りつ) (stand/establish) and 春(しゅん) (spring). One of the 二十四節気(にじゅうしせっき) (24 solar terms), an ancient system dividing the year based on the sun's position. 立春(りっしゅん) typically falls around February 4th.

Common collocations

立春(りっしゅん)を迎(むか)える: to welcome the start of spring
立春(りっしゅん)大吉(だいきち): great luck on the first day of spring (auspicious phrase)
暦(こよみ)の上(うえ)では立春(りっしゅん): on the calendar it's spring

Cultural note

The day before 立春(りっしゅん) is 節分(せつぶん), when people throw beans (豆(まめ)まき) to drive away evil spirits. Letters written after 立春(りっしゅん) conventionally use spring greetings even if the weather is still cold.

Related words

立夏(りっか): beginning of summer
立秋(りっしゅう): beginning of autumn
立冬(りっとう): beginning of winter
節分(せつぶん): the day before 立春(りっしゅん), bean-throwing festival

Related Words

Related: 立夏(りっか) (beginning of summer)

Related: 立秋(りっしゅう) (beginning of autumn)

Related: 立冬(りっとう) (beginning of winter)

Related: 節分(せつぶん) (the day before, bean-throwing festival)

Compare: 初春(しょしゅん) (early spring)

general

Added 2026.4.6 6:08 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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