彼岸花
higan-bana[çiɡã̠mba̠na̠]
The phrase "red spider lily" is 彼岸花 (higan-bana) in Japanese.
In Japanese, 彼岸花 refers to the spider lily.
Meaning: Translations (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
higan-bana
When do people say it?
The name refers to the flower's blooming time during the autumnal equinox (higan), a period used for ancestor veneration in Japan.
Did you know?
- The 彼岸花 is often called the 'flower of death' because it blooms when the leaves have already fallen, meaning the flowers and leaves never meet on the same stem.
- Because 彼岸花 are toxic, farmers historically planted them around rice paddies to act as a natural fence that keeps pests and animals away from the crops.
- In some Japanese traditions, it is considered bad luck to bring 彼岸花 into the home, as they are strictly viewed as flowers for the dead and the outdoors.
Examples in context
- 彼岸花の赤はとても綺麗ですね。Higanbana no aka wa totemo kirei desu ne.The red of the red spider lily is very beautiful, isn't it?
- あそこに彼岸花の群生が見えます。Asoko ni higanbana no gunsei ga miemasu.I can see a cluster of red spider lilies over there.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are walking through a park in autumn.
- 蓮 Ren見て、あそこに彼岸花が咲いているよ。Mite, asoko ni higanbana ga saite iru yo.Look, red spider lilies are blooming over there.
- 結衣 Yui本当だ！真っ赤でびっくりした。Hontou da! Makka de bikkuri shita.You're right! The bright red surprised me.
- 蓮 Ren秋が来た感じがするね。Aki ga kita kanji ga suru ne.It really feels like autumn has arrived.
- 結衣 Yuiうん、とても幻想的な風景だね。Un, totemo gensouteki na fuukei da ne.Yeah, it's a very mystical scene.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “red spider lily” translations and entries 彼岸花, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
