fresh leaves; young green leaves
Refers to the new, vibrant green leaves of spring and early summer. Often used poetically or in seasonal descriptions.
庭の木々に青葉が茂り始めた。
The trees in the garden have started to grow fresh green leaves.
The trees in the park have grown thick with fresh green leaves.
青葉の季節になると、公園が一番美しい。
When the season of fresh leaves comes, the park is at its most beautiful.
五月は青葉の季節で、山がきれいだ。
May is the season of fresh green leaves, and the mountains look beautiful.
The sound of the fresh green leaves swaying in the wind is soothing.
新緑 describes the overall fresh greenery of early summer as a scene, while 青葉 refers specifically to the leaves themselves.
青葉 is the vivid green foliage of spring and early summer, while 紅葉 is the red and yellow foliage of autumn.
counter for leaves, sheets of paper, etc. · counter for boats (archaic)
brown hawk owl
Standard kanji spelling; common in news and literary contexts.
Compound of 青 (あお, 'blue/green') and 葉 (は, 'leaf'), with rendaku voicing of は to ば. The word has been used since Old Japanese to describe the fresh green leaves of spring and summer.