How to Say "Sunflower" in Japanese

ひまわり

himawari

The Japanese word for sunflower is ひまわり (himawari).

ひまわり is used to refer to the sunflower flower.

Meaning: flower (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of hi (sun) and mawari (turning/circling), literally meaning 'sun-turner'.

While the word is very commonly written in hiragana as ひまわり, it can also be written using the kanji 向日葵.

To indicate possession or a relationship, such as 'sunflower seeds', you must add the particle の after ひまわり to form ひまわりの.

himawari

In Japanese literature and poetry, the word ひまわり is often used as a metaphor for a person who is always looking towards a single, beloved person, much like the flower tracks the sun.
If you see the word 向日葵 in a historical novel, it is often used to evoke a sense of nostalgic or summer-themed 'Taisho Roman' aesthetics.
In certain Japanese flower languages, or 'hanakotoba', the sunflower represents 'adoration' and 'unwavering constancy'.

それはひまわりです。
It's a sunflower.
This sentence shows how to identify a sunflower using ひまわり.
Tatoeba #205407 by arnab, translation #42651 by CK
ひまわりの種買ったの？
Did you buy sunflower seeds?
This sentence demonstrates how to use ひまわり to describe sunflower seeds.
Tatoeba #8634758 by small_snow, translation #8634752 by Eccles17
雨でひまわり畑は台無しだ。
The rain destroyed the sunflower garden.
This sentence shows ひまわり being used in the context of a sunflower garden.
Tatoeba #11556390 by small_snow, translation #9387462 by AlanF_US
2 more sentences on Tatoeba

Daiki and Himari are walking through a park in summer.

大翔 Hiroto

見て、大きなひまわりが咲いているよ！
Mite, ookina himawari ga saite iru yo!
Look, a huge sunflower is blooming!
陽葵 Himari

本当だ！すごくきれいな黄色だね。
Hontou da! Sugoku kireina kiiro da ne.
You're right! It's such a beautiful yellow.
大翔 Hiroto

ひまわりは夏らしくていいよね。
Himawari wa natsurashikute ii yo ne.
Sunflowers are great because they feel like summer.
陽葵 Himari

うん、私もひまわりが大好き。
Un, watashi mo himawari ga daisuki.
Yeah, I love sunflowers too.

Sources

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