咲
blossom, bloom
Readings
On'yomi
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- さ.く
- -ざき
Nanori
- さ
- さき
Meaning
咲 centers on flowers opening: blossoming and blooming. It captures the visible moment when a flower unfolds.
Most common words using 咲
20 of 41- 咲くさくN5
to bloom; to flower; to blossom; to open
- 咲かせるさかせる
to make bloom
- 遅咲きおそざき
blooming late; flowering late; blossoming late
- 咲き誇るさきほこる
to be in full bloom; to blossom in full glory; to be in fullness of bloom
- 返り咲きかえりざき
comeback (e.g. in business); reinstatement
- 咲き乱れるさきみだれる
to bloom in profusion
- 返り咲くかえりざく
to come back; to bloom a second time
- 早咲きはやざき
early blooming; early flowering
- 狂い咲きくるいざき
off-season flowering
- 八重咲きやえざき
double blossom
- 花が咲くはながさくN1
to bloom; to blossom
- 一花咲かせるひとはなさかせる
to flourish briefly (esp. before retiring or stopping); to have a day in the limelight; to have a stint of success
- 二度咲きにどざき
second blooming
- 五分咲きごぶざき
half-florescent; half-bloomed
- 咲きこぼれるさきこぼれる
to bloom all over; to bloom in riotous profusion
- 咲きそろうさきそろう
to be in full bloom
- 咲き出すさきだす
to begin to bloom; to come out
- 咲き分けさきわけ
variegated flowering
- 咲き初めるさきそめる
to begin to blossom
- 咲き匂うさきにおう
to be in beautiful full bloom
Study
Etymology
咲 combines 口 (mouth) with 关, a component that likely contributes the sound and is associated with opening. The character expresses the idea of a flower opening its mouth-like petals.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is a mouth 口, and the right side 关 looks like a flower bud opening. Picture a flower's petals parting like a mouth to bloom.
Reading mnemonic
For ショウ, imagine a flower show where every blossom opens on display: show -> ショウ, and the flowers bloom for the audience.