1.
hanafuda; flower cards; Japanese playing cards
A traditional Japanese card game using a deck of 48 cards divided into 12 suits, each representing a month of the year and its associated flower or plant.
花札で遊ぶ。
To play hanafuda.
祖父に花札のルールを教えてもらった。
My grandfather taught me the rules of hanafuda.
正月に家族で花札をするのが毎年の楽しみだ。
Playing hanafuda with the family at New Year's is something I look forward to every year.
A compound of 花 (flower) and 札 (card/tag). The 48-card deck has 12 suits corresponding to the months, each featuring seasonal plants: January (松, pine), February (梅, plum), March (桜, cherry), and so on through December.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 花札で遊ぶ: to play hanafuda
- 花札の絵柄: hanafuda card designs
- 花札を配る: to deal hanafuda cards
CULTURAL NOTE:
Hanafuda has been played in Japan since the Edo period and remains popular as a family game, especially during 正月 (New Year). The game company Nintendo originally began as a hanafuda manufacturer in 1889. Common game variants include こいこい} and {花合わせ.