ユリ
yuri
The Japanese word for lily is ユリ (yuri).
ユリ refers to a flower in the genus Lilium. In botanical or scientific contexts, it is common to write the name using katakana as ユリ. For specific varieties, such as a tiger lily, you may see the term tora yuri (虎百合) used in some regions, while the day lily is referred to as ヘメロカリス.
Meaning: flower in the genus Lilium (noun)
Which one should you use?
The word can be written in different scripts depending on the context. ユリ (katakana) is used for the plant name in scientific or botanical settings. 百合 (kanji) is a common way to write the word for lily. リリー (katakana) is used as a transcription for the Western name Lily or as a loanword. Additionally, both 百合 and リリー can serve as female given names meaning "lily".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term tora yuri (虎百合) is used for "tiger lily" in some regions.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
yuri
Did you know?
- In Japanese popular culture, the term yuri is used to describe a genre of manga and anime that focuses on romantic relationships between women.
- While yuri refers to lilies, the Japanese word for a 'lily of the valley' is suzuran, which literally translates to 'bell flower'.
- The kanji for lily, 百合, is composed of the characters for 'one hundred' and 'junction'.
Examples in context
- 彼女の花束には美しい百合の花が入っていた。Her bouquet included beautiful lily flowers.
- 温室には白い百合が咲いていました。White lilies were blooming in the greenhouse.
- 毎年、山で美しい山百合を見つけます。Every year, I find beautiful wild lilies in the mountains.
- 今日、庭で素敵な百合の花が咲いていましたよ！Today, there were lovely lilies blooming in the garden!
- ユリの花が咲いています。Yuri no hana ga saite imasu.The lily flowers are blooming.
- 庭に白いユリがあります。Niwa ni shiroi yuri ga arimasu.There is a white lily in the garden.
- ユリの香りはとても強いです。Yuri no kaori wa totemo tsuyoi desu.The scent of the lily is very strong.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are at a flower shop.
- 健太 Kentaこのユリはいくらですか？Kono yuri wa ikura desu ka?How much is this lily?
- 結衣 Yui一輪で五百円です。Ichi-rin de gohyaku en desu.It is five hundred yen per flower.
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、これをください。Jaa, kore o kudasai.Then, I'll take this one.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ユリ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
