when you think of your favorite season, what comes to mind? is it seeing cardinals in a snowy winter scene? maybe it’s when the 桜(さくら, cherry blossoms) bloom in march or the 紫陽花(あじさい, hydrangeas) bloom in june. in japanese, the word 風物詩 refers to things—events, objects, plants and animals, flavors and scents, even products—that evoke or are reminiscent of a certain season of the year. here’s weblio’s definition of 風物詩, plus an example:
その季節の感じをよく表しているもの。「金魚売りは夏の風物詩」
here, 金魚売り(きんぎょうり, goldfish selling) is mentioned as a summertime 風物詩. there are also lots of examples on ja.wikipedia:
春(はる, spring)
桜(さくら) = cherry blossoms
ツバメ = swallow (bird species)
いちご = strawberry
さくらんぼ = cherry
卒業式(そつぎょうしき) = school graduation ceremony
夏(なつ, summer)
逃げ水(にげみず) = road mirage (lit. “runaway water”)
雷雨(らいう) = thunderstorm
風鈴(ふうりん) = wind chime
ひまわり = sunflower
麦わら帽子(むぎわらぼうし) = straw hat
花火(はなび) = fireworks
怪談(かいだん) = ghost story
秋(あき, fall)
紅葉(こうよう) = autumn colors
運動会(うんどうかい) = school sports day
文化祭(ぶんかさい) = school cultural festival
りんご = apple
マツタケ = matsutake mushroom
初霜(はつしも) = first frost
冬(ふゆ, winter)
つらら = icicle
焚き火(たきび) = bonfire
アイススケート = ice skating
電飾(でんしょく) = decorative lighting
寒中水泳(かんちゅうすいえい) = swimming in the middle of winter
there are so many!! i would say some of my favorite 風物詩 are for summer, since lots of my favorite plant foods (like plums, chokeberries, and hazelnuts) are ready in summer where i’m from! in fall and winter, i love seeing everyone out and about wearing their scarves and mittens, and in spring even just seeing the sun for the first time in months feels like a 風物詩 to me.
anyway, that’s all for now. please let me know what your guys’ favorite 風物詩 are in the comments!! また今度ね!