Japanese word

咲く

Pronunciation

Romajisaku

Meaning

  • verbbloom

Example

春に花が咲きます。haru ni hana ga sa ki ma su

Flowers bloom in spring.

Illustration for 咲く (bloom)

More examples

夏にひまわりが咲きます。natsu ni hi ma wa ri ga sa ki ma su

Sunflowers bloom in summer.

この花は夜になると咲きます。ko no hana wa yoru ni na ru to sa ki ma su

This flower blooms at night.

Core concept

Describes a flower opening from a bud and showing its petals.

Common phrases

  • 花が咲くhana ga sa ku

    flowers bloom

  • 桜が咲くsakura ga sa ku

    cherry blossoms bloom

  • 春に咲くharu ni sa ku

    bloom in spring

Similar words

開くaku: A flower changes from a closed state to an open state.

Definition in Japanese

植物がつぼみを開いて花をつける。shoku butsu ga tsu bo mi o hira i te hana o tsu ke ru

Word origin

咲く (saku) is a native Japanese verb, not a compound or loanword; the kanji 咲 (saku, "bloom") is a meaning-based spelling for this older Japanese word.

Usage tips

  • The pattern 花が咲きます (Hana ga sakimasu) describes flowers blooming, while 春に花が咲きます (Haru ni hana ga sakimasu) adds the season with に (ni).

Opposites

Word lists with this word