寒かん雀すずめ

noun

winter sparrow; sparrow in winter

A seasonal word (kigo) for winter in haiku and traditional poetry. In folk belief, winter sparrows were thought to be especially tasty and to have medicinal or healing properties.

• 寒かん雀すずめは冬ふゆの季き語ごとして俳はい句くによく詠よまれる。

  The winter sparrow is often used as a winter season word in haiku.

• 昔むかしは寒かん雀すずめを食たべると風邪かぜが治なおると信しんじられていた。

  It was once believed that eating a winter sparrow would cure a cold.