咲く
saku[sa̠kɯ̟]
The English phrase "bloom" is translated into Japanese as 咲く (saku).
咲く is an intransitive verb used to describe flowers blooming. Because it is intransitive, it is used to describe the flowers themselves blooming rather than an action performed on them.
Meaning: the state of blossoming (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes depending on the aspect you wish to convey. Use 咲いた to say that a flower bloomed in the past, and use 咲いている to describe the ongoing state of a flower being in bloom. If you wish to express a desire to make a flower bloom, use the causative-desiderative form 咲かせたい.
How do you pronounce it?
saku
Did you know?
- The verb 咲く is used metaphorically to describe a person's face when they break into a bright or radiant smile.
- In Japanese culture, the 'bloom' of cherry blossoms is often associated with 物の哀れ or 'mono no aware', a term for the bittersweet beauty of impermanence.
- The phrase 花が咲く can be used to describe a conversation that has suddenly become lively and interesting.
Examples in context
- 薔薇ならば咲くだろう。If it's a rose, it'll bloom.This sentence shows how to use 咲く to express a conditional bloom.Tatoeba #1614631 by Meow, translation #12631884 by urro
- チューリップはまもなく咲く。Tulips come into bloom soon.This sentence uses 咲く to indicate that tulips will bloom soon.Tatoeba #202942 by bunbuku, translation #40177 by sundown
- このバラは、春に咲くんです。These roses bloom in spring.This sentence uses 咲く to describe when roses bloom.Tatoeba #12593251 by small_snow, translation #9955127 by ddnktr
- 花が咲きましたThe flower bloomed.
- 桜が開花しましたThe cherry blossoms have bloomed.
- 庭には美しい花が咲き誇っているBeautiful flowers are blooming brightly in the garden.
- 美しく咲くTo bloom beautifully
- 豪華に咲くTo bloom luxuriously
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Yota and Yui are walking through a park in spring.
- 陽太 Yota桜が咲く時期だね。Sakura ga saku jiki da ne.It's the time for cherry blossoms to bloom, isn't it?
- 結衣 Yui本当に。とても綺麗だよ。Hontō ni. Totemo kirei da yo.It really is. They are so beautiful.
- 陽太 Yota明日には全部咲くかな。Ashita ni wa zenbu saku kana.I wonder if they will all bloom by tomorrow.
- 結衣 Yuiきっとそうなると思うよ。Kitto sō naru to omou yo.I think they probably will.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 咲く, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
