バラ
bara
The Japanese word for rose is バラ (bara).
The word バラ refers to the flower itself. Related terms like 薔薇色 or バラ色 are used to describe the color rose.
Meaning: flower (noun)
Which one should you use?
While バラ is the common katakana spelling for the flower, you may also see the kanji form 薔薇. The kanji version is much more difficult to write and is often used in more literary or formal contexts. When you are referring to the English female given name 'Rose', Japanese uses the loanword ローズ rather than the word for the flower.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
bara
Did you know?
- Because the kanji 薔薇 is so difficult, some Japanese people cannot actually read it without a dictionary, even though they recognize the flower.
- The word バラ is written in katakana not because it is a foreign loanword, but because many plant names are traditionally written this way in botanical contexts.
- In Japanese poetry, the 'rose' is not a traditional seasonal indicator, whereas many other flowers like the 'sakura' or 'ume' have much stronger seasonal associations.
Examples in context
- 赤いバラは咲いた？Has the red rose blossomed?This sentence is useful for asking if a red バラ has blossomed.Tatoeba #11508326 by small_snow, translation #1098693 by cntrational
- バラは茎に刺がある。A rose has thorns on its stem.This sentence is useful for noting that a バラ has thorns on its stem.Tatoeba #197881 by bunbuku, translation #35070 by CM
- バラのように美しい。It's as lovely as a rose.This sentence is useful for making a comparison to a バラ.Tatoeba #197895 by small_snow, translation #35084 by CK
- 彼女は美しい薔薇を渡してくれました。She gave me a beautiful rose.
- この香水にはローズの香りがします。This perfume has a scent of roses.
- このバラは素敵な色をしていますね。This rose has a lovely color.
- 彼が私に薔薇の花をくれました。He gave me a rose.
- 18 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A young man and woman are looking at a garden.
- 陽葵 Himariこのバラ、とても綺麗だね。Kono bara, totemo kirei dane.This rose is very beautiful, isn't it?
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。色がすごく鮮やかだね。Hontou da. Iro ga sugoku azayaka dane.It really is. The color is so vivid.
- 陽葵 Himari健太さんの好きなバラなの？Kenta-san no sukina bara nano?Is it the kind of rose you like, Kenta?
- 健太 Kentaうん、大好きなバラだよ。Un, daisukina bara dayo.Yes, it is a rose I love very much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry バラ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
