Translation guide
A flowering plant with trumpet-shaped blooms that typically last only one day. In Japanese, the most common term is カンゾウ (萱草), though several related species have distinct names.
カンゾウ
day lily (plant)
Referring to day lilies as a plant, especially in gardening or botanical contexts.
The standard Japanese word for day lily, referring to Hemerocallis species. Often written in katakana.
庭にカンゾウが咲いています。
Day lilies are blooming in the garden.
Kanji form of カンゾウ, used in more formal or literary contexts.
萱草は一日花です。
The day lily is a flower that lasts only one day.
Literally 'forget-me-not grass', an older Japanese name for day lilies, now less common.
ワスレグサは古い和名です。
Wasuregusa is an old Japanese name for day lily.
Referring to day lily buds or flowers used as food, especially in Chinese or Japanese cuisine.
Dried day lily buds used in Chinese cooking. Common in Japanese supermarkets as a Chinese ingredient.
金針菜を水で戻してから炒めます。
Soak the dried day lily buds in water, then stir-fry them.
Fresh day lily buds, sometimes used in tempura or ohitashi.
カンゾウのつぼみを天ぷらにしました。
I made tempura with day lily buds.
Referring to particular day lily species native to Japan or commonly cultivated.
Hemerocallis fulva var. longituba, a wild day lily native to Japan. Often found in fields and mountains.
ノカンゾウは野原に自生しています。
Nokanzō grows wild in fields.
Hemerocallis fulva var. kwanso, a double-flowered day lily often seen in gardens.
ヤブカンゾウは八重咲きです。
Yabukanzō has double flowers.
The scientific genus name, used in gardening catalogs for hybrid varieties.
ヘメロカリスの新品種が入荷しました。
New varieties of Hemerocallis have arrived.
In everyday writing, カンゾウ is usually written in katakana. The kanji 萱草 is more formal or literary.
Day lilies are not true lilies (ユリ). Avoid translating 'day lily' as ユリ, which refers to Lilium species.