Japanese word

花びら

Pronunciation

Romajihanabira

Meaning

  • nounpetal

Example

赤い花びらが風で飛びます。aka i hana bi ra ga kaze de to bi ma su

Red petals blow in the wind.

Illustration for 花びら (petal)

More examples

赤い花びらを一枚見つけました。aka i hana bi ra o ichi mai mi tsu ke ma shi ta

I found a red petal.

桜の花びらが水面に浮かびます。sakura no hana bi ra ga sui men ni u ka bi ma su

Cherry blossom petals float on the water.

Core concept

花びら (hanabira, "petal") refers to the thin, often colorful part of a flower that surrounds its center.

Common phrases

  • 花びらが舞うhana bi ra ga ma u

    petals flutter

  • 花びらが散るhana bi ra ga chi ru

    petals fall

  • 花びらを拾うhana bi ra o hiro u

    pick up petals

Similar words

花弁kaben: The formal botanical term for the usually colorful leaflike part of a flower.

Definition in Japanese

花を形作る、薄く平らな一枚一枚の部分。hana o katachi zuku ru usu ku tai ra na ichi mai ichi mai no bu bun

Word origin

花びら (hanabira) is a native compound of 花 (hana, "flower") and ひら (hira, "flat piece"), with the initial h changing to b in the compound.

Usage tips

  • The image of 花びら (hanabira) floating down is strongly associated with cherry-blossom season in Japanese poems and seasonal descriptions.

Word lists with this word