夏
summer
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
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.