花
flower
Readings
On'yomi
- カ
- ケ
Kun'yomi
- はな
Nanori
- わ
Meaning
花 centers on the bloom of a plant: a flower, the most visually striking part of many plants.
Most common words using 花
24 of 635- 花はなN5
flower; blossom; bloom; petal
- 花火はなびN4
fireworks
- 花粉かふんN2
pollen
- 花嫁はなよめN2
bride
- 花見はなみN5
cherry blossom viewing; flower viewing
- 開花かいかN2
flowering; blooming; blossoming; coming into bloom
- 花束はなたばN1
bunch of flowers; bouquet
- 花びらはなびらN1
petal
- 花屋はなや
florist; flower shop
- 桜花おうか
cherry blossom
- 火花ひばなN1
spark
- 花園はなぞの
flower garden
- 花道はなみち
elevated walkway through the audience to the stage
- 花瓶かびんN5
(flower) vase
- 花壇かだんN1
flower bed
- 花婿はなむこN2
bridegroom
- 紫陽花あじさい
bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla); French hydrangea
- 花形はながた
floral pattern; flourish; ornament
- 草花くさばなN1
flower; flowering plant
- 生け花いけばなN4
ikebana; Japanese art of flower arrangement
- 花輪はなわ
wreath; garland
- 花鳥かちょう
flowers and birds
- 献花けんか
flower offering; floral tribute; laying flowers
- 花柳かりゅう
red-light district
Study
Etymology
花 combines 艹 (grass/plant) with 化, which likely contributes the sound and suggests transformation or change, fitting the idea of a plant's bloom.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 艹 is a plant, and the bottom 化 looks like a person sitting beside a spoon, as if tending a plant. Picture a gardener nurturing a plant until it transforms into a flower.
Reading mnemonic
For カ, imagine a car decorated with flowers for a parade: car -> カ, and the flowers make it beautiful.