Japanese bush warbler; messenger of spring
Poetic name for the Japanese bush warbler (鶯), seen as a herald of spring. The literal meaning is 'messenger of spring'.
See also: ウグイス
When I hear the voice of the messenger of spring, I feel that warm weather is near.
In haiku, 'haru no tsukai' refers to the bush warbler.
Standard kanji spelling for this poetic name.
Variant spelling with 使 instead of 使い; less common.
Compound of 春 (spring) + の (possessive particle) + 使い (messenger). The bush warbler's song is associated with the arrival of spring in Japanese poetry.