Japanese Symbol for
冬fuyu
winter · cold · year's end
Readings
Meaning
Winter, wintertime. 冬 is the season of 温泉 (onsen — hot springs), 大晦日 (ōmisoka — New Year's Eve), and 正月 (shōgatsu — New Year). Japan's New Year celebrations are among the most elaborate in the world.
Example words
冬至
tōji
winter solstice
冬休み
fuyu-yasumi
winter break
真冬
mafuyu
midwinter, dead of winter
冬景色
fuyu-geshiki
winter scenery, wintry landscape
鍋
nabe
hot pot (iconic winter dish)
冬眠
tōmin
hibernation (winter sleep)
正月 (shōgatsu — New Year) is Japan's most important holiday. Families eat おせち料理 (osechi ryōri — traditional New Year foods), visit shrines for 初詣 (hatsumōde — first shrine visit), and receive 年賀状 (nengajō — New Year's cards). 除夜の鐘 (joya no kane) — the 108 temple bell strikes on New Year's Eve — purify the 108 earthly desires of the previous year.
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