Japanese word

旬

Pronunciation

Romajishun

Meaning

  • nounbest time

Example

桃の旬は夏です。momo no shun wa natsu de su

Summer is the best time for peaches.

Illustration for 旬 (best time)

More examples

この魚は秋に旬を迎えます。ko no sakana wa aki ni shun o muka e ma su

This fish comes into season in autumn.

Core concept

It points to the season or short period when a food naturally offers its best taste and quality.

Common phrases

  • 旬の魚shun no sakana

    fish in season

  • 旬を迎えるshun o muka e ru

    come into season

  • 旬を過ぎるshun o su gi ru

    go out of season

Similar words

食べ頃tabegoro: The time when food is ready to eat and tastes best.
盛りsakari: The peak period when a food or crop is at its best.
出盛りdesakari: The period when a food or crop is most abundant in the market.

Definition in Japanese

食べ物などの味や品質が最もよくなる時期。ta be mono na do no aji ya hin shitsu ga motto mo yo ku na ru ji ki

Word origin

旬 (shun, "a ten-day period") is a Sino-Japanese term whose original time-span sense was extended in Japanese to describe the best season for foods.

Usage tips

  • Unlike a fixed calendar season, 旬 (shun) focuses on the period when an ingredient is considered best, which can vary by region and by food.

Other meanings

  • in seasonnoun

Opposites

  • 旬外れshunhazureout of seasonnoun

Word lists with this word