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Kotomora

夏

summer

JLPTN4StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes10

Readings

On'yomi

  • カ
  • ガ
  • ゲ

Kun'yomi

  • なつ

Meaning

夏 centers on the season of summer, the warmest time of year.

Most common words using 夏

20 of 159
  • 夏なつ
    N5

    summer

  • 夏休みなつやすみ
    N5

    summer vacation; summer holiday

  • 真夏まなつ
    N1

    middle of summer; height of summer; midsummer

  • 夏場なつば

    summertime; summer season

  • 夏季かき
    N1

    summer season; summer; summertime

  • 初夏しょか
    N2

    early summer

  • 夏期かき
    N1

    summer term (e.g. school); summer period

  • 今夏こんか

    this summer; next summer; last summer

  • 春夏秋冬しゅんかしゅうとう
    N1

    spring, summer, autumn (fall) and winter; the four seasons

  • 夏バテなつばて
    N1

    suffering from summer heat; summer heat fatigue

  • 夏服なつふく

    summer clothes; summer wear; summer uniform

  • 夏至げし
    N1

    summer solstice

  • 小夏こなつ

    hyuganatsu (species of citrus, Citrus tamurana)

  • 夏野なつの

    summer fields

  • 夏物なつもの
    N3

    summer clothing; summer wear

  • 常夏とこなつ

    everlasting summer

  • 夏時間なつじかん

    daylight saving time; daylight savings time; summer time

  • 立夏りっか

    first day of summer (approx. May 6)

  • 夏場所なつばしょ

    Summer Tournament (held in Tokyo in May)

  • 来夏らいか

    next summer

Explore all words using 夏 →

Study

Etymology

夏 originally depicted a person with a mask or headdress, possibly representing a ritual dancer, and later came to mean summer. The modern form is simplified, and the exact historical development is uncertain.

Meaning mnemonic

The top part looks like a sun hat, and the bottom 夂 suggests walking slowly in the heat. Picture someone wearing a hat and trudging through the hot summer day.

Reading mnemonic

For カ, imagine a car overheating in the summer sun: car -> カ, and the summer heat makes the engine steam.