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.
今日は立春です。
Today is the first day of spring.
立春を過ぎても寒い日が続く。
Cold days continue even after the start of spring.
暦の上では立春だが、まだまだ冬の寒さが残っている。
On the calendar it's the start of spring, but the winter cold still lingers.
Composed of 立 (stand/establish) and 春 (spring). One of the 二十四節気 (24 solar terms), an ancient system dividing the year based on the sun's position. 立春 typically falls around February 4th.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 立春を迎える: to welcome the start of spring
- 立春大吉: great luck on the first day of spring (auspicious phrase)
- 暦の上では立春: on the calendar it's spring
CULTURAL NOTE:
The day before 立春 is 節分, when people throw beans (豆まき) to drive away evil spirits. Letters written after 立春 conventionally use spring greetings even if the weather is still cold.
RELATED TERMS:
- 立夏: beginning of summer
- 立秋: beginning of autumn
- 立冬: beginning of winter
- 節分: the day before 立春, bean-throwing festival