noun
red circle on a white background (symbol of the sun)
Refers to the simple design of a red circle on a white field, representing the sun. Often used in contexts like bento (日の丸弁当) or as a generic sun motif.
お弁当に梅干しをのせて、日の丸みたいにした。
I put a pickled plum on the rice in my bento, making it look like a Hinomaru.
noun
Japanese flag; Hinomaru
The national flag of Japan. Often used in patriotic, historical, or sports contexts. The full phrase 日の丸の旗 is also common.
See also: 日の丸の旗
オリンピックで、選手たちは日の丸を背負って戦った。
At the Olympics, the athletes competed under the Hinomaru flag.
noun
Japan (metonym); Japanese government
Metonymic use where the flag stands for the nation or its government, similar to 'the Stars and Stripes' for the US. Common in news and formal writing.
日の丸を背負って国際会議に臨む。
Attend an international conference representing Japan.