初はつ花はな

noun

first flower of the season; first bloom on a plant

Refers to the very first flower to appear in a season or the first flower a plant produces. Can be used poetically or in everyday contexts.

• 庭にわの梅うめの初はつ花はなが咲さいた。

  The first plum blossom in the garden has bloomed.

• 今年ことしの初はつ花はなは例れい年ねんより早はやかった。

  This year's first flowers came earlier than usual.

noun

first menstruation; menarche

Only with reading はつはな

A euphemistic or literary term for a girl's first period. Restricted to the reading はつはな.

• 初はつ花はなを迎むかえる年とし頃ごろの娘むすめに、母ははがそっと話はなしをした。

  The mother gently talked to her daughter, who was around the age of menarche.

noun

young woman who has just come of age

Only with reading はつはな

Poetic or old-fashioned term for a woman who has recently reached adulthood. Restricted to the reading はつはな.

• 初はつ花はなのような美うつくしさで、彼かの女じょは舞ぶ踏とう会かいに現あらわれた。

  She appeared at the ball with the beauty of a young woman just come of age.