ほおずき

noun

ground cherry; Chinese lantern plant

Refers to the plant Physalis alkekengi var. franchetii, known for its bright orange lantern-like calyx. Often associated with summer and Obon festivals.

• 庭にわにほおずきが赤あかく実みのっている。

  The ground cherries are bearing red fruit in the garden.

• お盆ぼんにはほおずきを飾かざる習しゅう慣かんがある。

  There is a custom of displaying Chinese lantern plants during the Obon festival.

noun

children's noisemaking toy made from a ground cherry

A traditional toy made by removing the seeds from a ground cherry and blowing into it to produce a sound. Often played with by children.

• 子こ供どもの頃ころ、ほおずきを鳴ならして遊あそんだ。

  When I was a child, I played by making sounds with a ground cherry toy.