花見
hanami[ha̠na̠mʲi]
hanami is the Japanese word for the custom of flower viewing.
You can use it with verbs to describe participating, such as 花見をする (to do hanami) or hanami ni ikimasu (I am going for hanami). When preparing for the event, you might say hanami de tabemono to nomimono o motte ikimasu (I will bring food and drinks for hanami). There is also a common idiomatic phrase, Hana yori dango, which literally means 'dumplings rather than flowers'.
Meaning: Japanese custom (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of 花 (hana), meaning flower and 見 (mi), which is the stem of the verb miru (to see or view).
How do you pronounce it?
hanami
When do people say it?
While the word literally translates to 'flower viewing', it is culturally synonymous with cherry blossom viewing. It is a social custom often involving parties and food.
Did you know?
- In Japanese cities, people often use blue plastic tarps to reserve a spot for hanami hours or days before the party starts.
- While hanami is now tied to cherry blossoms, the custom originally focused on plum blossoms during the Nara period.
- Nighttime hanami parties are called yozakura, referring to the beauty of cherry blossoms illuminated by lanterns.
Examples in context
- 今日は雲行きが怪しいです。お花見が中止にならないか心配です。I don't like the look of the weather today. I'm worried the hanami party might be cancelled.This sentence is useful for expressing concern about whether the 花見 party might be cancelled due to weather.Tatoeba #422020 by blay_paul, translation #422024 by blay_paul
- 来週、公園で花見をしませんか？Raishuu, kouen de hanami o shimasen ka?Shall we go cherry blossom viewing in the park next week?
- 花見のために、お弁当を用意しました。Hanami no tame ni, obentou o youi shimashita.I prepared a lunch box for the cherry blossom viewing.
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are talking about their spring plans.
- 美咲 Misaki陽太くんは、今年花見に行きますか。Yōta-kun wa, kotoshi hanami ni ikimasu ka.Yota, are you going to see the cherry blossoms this year?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、友達と行く予定です。Hai, tomodachi to iku yotei desu.Yes, I plan to go with some friends.
- 美咲 Misakiいいですね。どこで花見をしますか。Ii desu ne. Doko de hanami o shimasu ka.That's nice. Where will you do the viewing?
- 陽太 Yota近くの川沿いに行くつもりです。Chikaku no kawazoi ni iku tsumori desu.I intend to go to the riverbank nearby.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hanami” translations and entries 花見, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
