Enjoy Japan’s Four Seasons While Learning Japanese!
Hello, everyone studying Japanese! Japan’s four seasons are characterized by beautiful nature, unique customs, and culture tailored to each season.
In this post, Eri-san from JPLT Online Japanese Language School will provide a detailed explanation of seasonal words and culture to help you enjoy Japan’s four seasons while learning Japanese.
Why Does Learning About the Four Seasons Make Japanese Learning More Fun?
Learning Japanese through the four seasons has the following benefits:
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Concrete Imagery Seasonal words are easy to imagine because they are closely related to specific scenes and situations. For example, during spring, you might think of cherry blossoms, and in autumn, the fall leaves, making it easier to remember words associated with these images.
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Wider Range of Conversations Japanese people often use seasonal expressions in daily life. For example, in spring, you might say, “I’m planning to go to hanami (cherry blossom viewing),” and in summer, “I’m going to a fireworks festival.” Using seasonal words makes conversations more natural, and your communication with Japanese speakers will be smoother.
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A Deeper Understanding of Japanese Culture The four seasons are deeply important in Japan and are strongly linked to seasonal events and traditions. Learning seasonal words will greatly help you understand Japanese culture and history.
Let’s Deepen Our Japanese Through Seasonal Words!
Spring (Haru)Spring is the season when new life begins to sprout. It’s also the time for graduation and entrance ceremonies, marking the start of new beginnings.
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Representative Words: Sakura (cherry blossoms), Hanami (flower viewing), Graduation, Entrance Ceremony, New Life
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Example Sentences:
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“The cherry blossoms are in full bloom.”
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“Let’s go to see the cherry blossoms.”
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“I started working at a new company.”Tip: Spring is a time of meeting and parting. Many people experience significant life events like graduations and entrance ceremonies, which lead to the use of many related expressions.
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Summer (Natsu)Summer is a season filled with energy, where the sun shines brightly. In Japan, it’s a time for festivals, fireworks displays, and other traditional customs.
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Representative Words: Umi (sea), Hanabi (fireworks), Yukata (summer kimono), Summer Festival, Beer
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Example Sentences:
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“I want to go to the summer festival.”
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“Let’s wear yukata and go to the festival!”Tip: Summer events provide many opportunities to enjoy traditional Japanese culture, such as wearing yukata at festivals or enjoying food at stalls. There are many useful words and expressions to learn here.
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Autumn (Aki)Autumn is often called “the season of harvest.” Nature enters a time of abundance, and various activities like eating, sports, and reading become more enjoyable.
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Representative Words: Kōyō (autumn leaves), Appetite for Autumn, Reading Season, Sports Season
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Example Sentences:
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“Let’s go see the autumn leaves.”
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“I’m looking forward to autumn flavors.”Tip: Autumn is the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of Japan’s nature. Activities like leaf peeping and enjoying autumn delicacies will help with your Japanese learning.
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Winter (Fuyu)Winter is a cold season, but it’s a time to enjoy hot foods and traditional winter activities. New Year’s is one of Japan’s most important holidays.
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Representative Words: Yuki (snow), Nabe (hot pot), New Year, Onsen (hot spring), Kotatsu (heated table)
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Example Sentences:
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“I want to go to an onsen.”
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“I’ll go back to my family home for the New Year.”Tip: Winter is a season for family and friends to relax together, enjoying New Year’s celebrations, hot springs, and hot pot dishes. Learning Japanese while participating in these seasonal events is fun!
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Incorporate Seasonal Words into Your Daily Life and Japanese Studies!
To make your Japanese learning more fun and effective, try incorporating seasonal words into your daily routine:
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Write seasonal words on your calendarWrite the seasonal words or related terms for each month on your calendar. This will help you naturally remember the vocabulary of each season by seeing them every day.
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Participate in seasonal eventsJoin events like hanami, summer festivals, leaf watching, or snow festivals. This will give you more opportunities to use the words you’ve learned in real life.
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Cook seasonal dishesTry cooking dishes using seasonal ingredients. This way, you can learn new words and expressions related to taste, such as “kinoko gohan” (mushroom rice) or “matsutake” (a type of mushroom) in autumn.
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Read haiku and tankaThe beauty of Japan’s four seasons is captured in haiku and tanka. Reading these poems will help you understand the depth of the language through beautiful seasonal words.
Conclusion
Learning Japanese while understanding the four seasons is not only enjoyable but also highly effective. By learning the seasonal words and related events and culture, you’ll deepen your understanding of their meanings and make your Japanese learning more fun. Embrace the changes in the seasons and enjoy your daily Japanese studies!