春しゅん分ぶん

しゅ

ん

ぶ

ん

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

vernal equinox; spring equinox

Refers to the spring equinox, both as an astronomical point and as a calendrical seasonal marker; it is one of the 二十四節気.

Usage patterns

春しゅん分ぶんを迎むかえるto reach/arrive at the vernal equinox
来らい週しゅう、春しゅん分ぶんを迎むかえる。
We'll reach the vernal equinox next week.
春しゅん分ぶんの頃ころaround the time of the vernal equinox
春しゅん分ぶんの頃ころには桜さくらが咲さき始はじめる。
Cherry blossoms start to bloom around the time of the vernal equinox.

Kanji

春springtime, spring (season)
分part, minute of time, segment

Opposites

秋しゅう分ぶんN1
春分 is the spring equinox while 秋分 is the corresponding equinox in autumn.

Don't confuse with

春しゅん分ぶんの日ひ
春分 is the astronomical/seasonal term for the equinox itself, while 春分の日 is the specific named public holiday in Japan that falls on it.
冬とう至じN1
冬至 marks the solstice with the shortest daylight, whereas 春分 marks the spring equinox when day and night are roughly equal, so learners often mix up these calendrical terms.
立りっ春しゅん
立春 is the traditional start of spring around Feb 4, whereas 春分 is the vernal equinox around Mar 21, about six weeks later.
夏げ至しN1
夏至 marks the longest day of the year, whereas 春分 is the spring equinox when day and night are roughly equal in length.

Word family

春しゅん分ぶん点てん
vernal equinox point; vernal equinox

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound written with 春, meaning 'spring', and 分, meaning 'division' or 'parting'; the spelling is conventionally tied to the seasonal point when day and night are roughly balanced in spring.