ブーケ

ぶーけ
noun
bouquet (small bunch of flowers, especially as carried by a bride)
1. a bouquet; a small, decoratively arranged bunch of cut flowers, especially the type held by a bride at a wedding or given as a gift on a special occasion
Borrowed from French 'bouquet' (via European convention rather than English). In Japanese, ブーケ very strongly evokes the wedding context and is the standard word for the bridal bouquet, but it is also used more broadly for any small, hand-tied arrangement of flowers given as a present, used as a stage prop, or sold in flower shops. Larger arrangements in vases or baskets are usually called 花束(はなたば) or by other names rather than ブーケ.
花嫁(はなよめ)がブーケを投(な)げた。
The bride threw the bouquet.
誕生日(たんじょうび)に小(ちい)さなブーケをもらった。
I received a small bouquet for my birthday.
結婚式(けっこんしき)のために、白(しろ)いバラと緑(みどり)の葉(は)を合(あ)わせたブーケを注文(ちゅうもん)した。
For the wedding, I ordered a bouquet of white roses combined with green leaves.
演奏会(えんそうかい)の後(あと)、ファンから素敵(すてき)なブーケを手渡(てわた)されて、ピアニストはとても嬉(うれ)しそうだった。
After the recital, the pianist looked very happy when a fan handed her a beautiful bouquet.

Borrowed from French 'bouquet'. The word entered Japanese mainly through the Western wedding tradition, and the bridal-bouquet image is still its strongest association.

USAGE:

ブーケ refers specifically to a small, tied or arranged bunch of cut flowers held in the hand, especially:

  • the flowers held by a bride during a wedding ceremony
  • a hand bouquet given to a performer after a concert or recital
  • a small flower gift brought to a friend's birthday or anniversary
  • a stylish hand-tied arrangement bought in a florist's shop

For anything substantially larger or arranged in a basket, vase, or container, Japanese typically uses 花束(はなたば), アレンジメント, or フラワーアレンジ instead.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • ブーケを持(も)つ: to hold a bouquet
  • ブーケを投(な)げる: to throw a bouquet (the bride at a wedding)
  • ブーケを贈(おく)る: to give (someone) a bouquet
  • ブーケを受(う)け取(と)る: to receive a bouquet
  • ブーケを作(つく)る: to make a bouquet
  • ウェディングブーケ: wedding bouquet
  • ブライダルブーケ: bridal bouquet
  • 花嫁(はなよめ)のブーケ: the bride's bouquet
  • ブーケトス: 'bouquet toss', the wedding tradition where the bride throws her bouquet to single guests
  • 小(ちい)さなブーケ: a small bouquet
  • バラのブーケ: a rose bouquet

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 花束(はなたば): bunch of flowers, bouquet — the native word; broader and more neutral, covering everything from a simple wrapped bunch from a flower shop to a formal presentation bouquet. Lacks ブーケ's strong wedding/Western associations.
  • フラワーアレンジメント: flower arrangement — the loanword for any decorative arrangement, often in a basket or vase.
  • アレンジメント: arrangement — same as above, abbreviated.
  • 生(い)け花(ばな): ikebana — the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement, very different in aesthetic from a Western ブーケ.
  • 献花(けんか): floral tribute — flowers offered ceremonially, e.g. at a memorial service.

CULTURAL NOTE:
The wedding tradition of ブーケトス (bouquet toss) is widely practised at Western-style weddings in Japan and is treated as a fun, photogenic moment. Single female guests gather to catch the bouquet, with the catcher said to be the next to marry. Some Japanese weddings replace the toss with ブーケプルズ (bouquet pulls), in which several ribbons are attached to the bouquet and one of them is the 'winning' ribbon — a gentler alternative.

general
Added 2026.4.12 10:47
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