梅
Meanings
1
Japanese apricot; ume; plum
Refers to the fruit, tree, or blossom of Prunus mume. Often translated as 'plum' but botanically closer to an apricot. Common in food names like 梅干し and 梅酒.
There is a Japanese apricot tree in the garden.
Umeboshi are sour and delicious.
2
lowest rank; third tier
Used in the traditional three-tier ranking system 松竹梅 (pine, bamboo, plum), where 梅 is the lowest grade. Often seen in restaurant menus, gift sets, or exam results.
Among the pine-bamboo-plum tiers of osechi dishes, the plum tier is the cheapest.
Usage patterns
- 梅が咲くthe plum blossoms bloom
The plum blossoms in the garden have started to bloom.
- 〈物〉は梅にするto choose the lowest (梅) grade for something
Since we were on a budget, we went with the cheapest (梅) course.
- 梅を漬けるto pickle plums
Every year, my mother pickles plums to make umeboshi.
Expressions
- 梅に鶯perfect match; match made in heaven; bush warbler in a plum tree
- 桜切る馬鹿、梅切らぬ馬鹿only a fool prunes cherry trees, and only a fool does not prune plum trees
- 梅は食うとも核食うな、中に天神寝てござるdon't eat plum pits (because they are poisonous); if you eat a plum, don't eat the kernel; inside it heavenly gods sleep