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菖蒲湯 (しょうぶゆ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

菖しょう蒲ぶ湯ゆ

しょ

う

ぶ

ゆ

Meanings

1

noun

iris-leaf bath; sweet-flag bath

A traditional bath infused with iris (sweet flag) leaves, especially taken on May 5th (Children's Day) for health and protection.

端たん午ごの節せっ句くには菖しょう蒲ぶ湯ゆに入はいる習しゅう慣かんがあります。
There is a custom of taking an iris-leaf bath on Children's Day.

Kanji

菖iris
蒲bullrush, flag, cattail
湯hot water, bath, hot spring

Similar words

菖しょう蒲ぶ
Refers to the iris (sweet flag) plant itself, while 菖蒲湯 is the bath prepared with its leaves.

Etymology

Compound of 菖蒲 (shōbu, 'sweet flag/iris') and 湯 (yu, 'hot water/bath'). The practice is associated with the Boy's Festival (now Children's Day) and is believed to ward off evil and promote health.