伊呂波楓(いろはもみじ)

いろはもみじ
noun
Japanese maple (Acer palmatum)
plant-tree
1. Japanese maple, the most common ornamental maple in Japan
The most widespread maple species in Japan, with small, deeply lobed leaves that turn vivid red or orange in autumn. Usually just called もみじ in everyday speech.
庭(にわ)に伊呂波楓(いろはもみじ)を植(う)えた。
I planted a Japanese maple in the garden.
伊呂波楓(いろはもみじ)の紅葉(こうよう)が美(うつく)しい。
The autumn foliage of the Japanese maple is beautiful.
この楓(かえで)は伊呂波楓(いろはもみじ)という品種(ひんしゅ)だ。
This maple is a variety called iroha-momiji.

The most common 楓(かえで) species in Japan (Acer palmatum), also called いろは楓(かえで). Its small leaf, split into five to seven pointed lobes, was traditionally likened to a hand counting out the いろは syllabary — hence the name.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 大楓(おおかえで): a maple variety with noticeably larger leaves, less common in ordinary gardens
  • 紅葉(もみじ): the general word for maple/autumn leaves; いろはもみじ names this specific species

Related Words

Related: 楓(かえで) (maple (general))
Related: 大楓(おおかえで) (large-leaf maple variety)
Compare: 紅葉(もみじ) (the general word for maple/autumn leaves)
general
Added 2026.9.12 21:43 · Revised 2026.9.12 21:50
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