萼

がく

noun

calyx; sepals (of a flower)

1. calyx; sepals (of a flower)

The ring of small green leaf-like parts at the base of a flower, which encloses the bud before it opens and supports the petals afterwards. On a strawberry or persimmon it is the green cap at the top.

萼(がく)が緑色(みどりいろ)だ。

The calyx is green.

イチゴの萼(がく)を取(と)ってから洗(あら)う。

Remove the calyx from the strawberries and then wash them.

花(はな)びらが落(お)ちても萼(がく)はしばらく枝(えだ)に残(のこ)っている。

Even after the petals fall, the calyx stays on the branch for a while.

A botanical term. The kanji 萼(がく) is uncommon, so the word is usually written がく or ガク in gardening books and on packaging.

Common collocations

萼(がく)片(へん): sepal — one individual segment of the calyx
萼(がく)を取(と)る: to remove the calyx (in cooking)
萼(がく)が残(のこ)る: for the calyx to remain

Similar words

花(はな)びら: petal — the colored part of the flower
ヘタ: the cap or stem end of a fruit — the everyday kitchen word for what botany calls the 萼(がく)

Related Words

Compare: 花(はな)びら (petal)

general

Added 2026.8.9 12:19 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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