桜

See also: 櫻 and 樱

桜	U+685C, 桜 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-685C

← 桛
[U+685B]

CJK Unified Ideographs

桝 →
[U+685D]

Translingual

Traditional	櫻
Shinjitai	桜
Simplified	樱

Han character

桜 (Kangxi radical 75, 木+6, 10 strokes, cangjie input 木火女 (DFV), composition ⿰木𰋷)

References

KangXi: not present, would follow page 526, character 21

Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 14796

Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): not present, would follow volume 2, page 1207, character 5

Unihan data for U+685C

Chinese

Glyph origin

Simplified from 櫻 (嬰 → 𰋷).

Definitions

For pronunciation and definitions of 桜 – see 櫻 (“cherry”). (This character, 桜, is the second-round simplified form of 櫻.)
Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Japanese

Shinjitai	桜
Kyūjitai	櫻

Kanji

桜

(grade 5 “Kyōiku” kanji, shinjitai kanji, kyūjitai form 櫻)

Readings

Go-on: よう (yō)^{←やう (yau, historical)}
Kan-on: おう (ō, Jōyō)^{←あう (au, historical)}
Kun: さくら (sakura, 桜, Jōyō)

Compounds

山桜桃(ユスラウメ) (yusura-ume, “Prunus tomentosa”)

Etymology 1

Kanji in this term
桜
さくら Grade: 5
kun’yomi

Alternative spelling
櫻 (kyūjitai)

桜 (sakura): the Japanese cherry tree, Prunus serrulata

From Old Japanese,[1] first attested in the Kojiki, the oldest extant historical record of ancient Japan, compiled in 712 CE.

Originally derived from 咲く (saku, “to bloom, burst open”) +‎ 等 (-ra, nominalizing and pluralizing suffix).[2]

Pronunciation

(Tokyo) さくら [sàkúrá] (Heiban – [0])[3] (general)
(Tokyo) さくら [sáꜜkùrà] (Atamadaka – [1]) (modern given name)
IPA^(key): [sa̠kɯ̟ᵝɾa̠]

Noun

桜(さくら) • (sakura) (kyūjitai 櫻)

a cherry tree, in Japanese contexts particularly the Japanese cherry, Prunus serrulata, yet not limited to it
- 905–914, Kokin Wakashū (book 16, poem 832)
  深草(ふかくさ)の野辺(のべ)の桜(さくら)し心(こころ)あらば今年(ことし)ばかりは墨染(すみぞめ)に咲(さ)け
  Fukakusa-no-nobe no sakura shi kokoro araba kotoshi bakari wa sumizome ni sake
  O cherry trees of Fukakusa Field! If you truly have a heart this year, at least you'll be dressed in blossoms dyed in inky black.[4]
Synonym: 桜木 (sakuragi)
Hypernym: 薔薇 (bara)
Short for 桜花 (sakurabana): a cherry blossom
- 1086, Goshūi Wakashū (book 1, poem 120; also Hyakunin Isshu, poem 73)
  高砂(たかさご)のをのへの桜(さくら)咲(さ)きにけり外(と)山(やま)のかすみ立(た)たずもあらなむ
  takasago no onohe no sakura sakinikeri toyama no kasumi tatazu mo aranamu
  The cherries on Takasago peak have come into bloom; may the haze not rise on the outer slopes.[5]
Short for 桜木 (sakuragi): cherry wood
Short for 桜皮 (sakuragawa): cherry bark
Short for 桜色 (sakura-iro): cherry blossom pink
Short for 桜襲, 桜重 (sakura-gasane): a layered style of wearing kimono with one layer in the sakura-iro color
Short for 桜肉 (sakura niku): horsemeat, from its pinkish color
Short for 桜湯 (sakurayu): cherry blossom tea
Synonym of 天保一分銀 (Tenpō ichibugin): a rectangular silver coin issued during the Tenpō era (1830-1844), so called for its cherry blossom pattern; worth one-quarter of a 両 (ryō)
(card games) the suit of cherry blossoms in a hanafuda deck, representing the month of March
(Kansai) a class of prostitute in the red-light district
the middle of the dorsal fin of a fish
(theater, historical) during the Edo Period, a special box or balcony seat for a hired applauder, someone requested to cheer on the performers
(slang) a shill, capper, or come-on working for a store, auction, or even a swindle, who is paid to attract customers or marks
(slang) an ear
Short for 桜炭, 佐倉炭 (Sakura-zumi): a high-quality 炭 (sumi, “charcoal”) made in 佐倉 (Sakura) in Chiba Prefecture, using 桜 as ateji for 佐倉

Usage notes

As with many terms that name organisms, this term is often spelled in katakana, especially in biological contexts (where katakana is customary), as サクラ.

Derived terms

桜(さくら)麻(あさ) (sakura-asa)
桜(さくら)井(い) (Sakurai)
桜(さくら)烏賊(いか) (sakura ika)
桜(さくら)色(いろ) (sakura-iro, “pink; florid”)
桜(さくら)煎(い)り (sakura-iri), 桜(さくら)煮(に) (sakura-ni)
桜(さくら)魚(うお) (sakura-uo)
桜(さくら)鯎(うぐい) (sakura ugui)
桜(さくら)会(え) (Sakura-e)
桜(サクラ)海老(エビ), 桜(サクラ)蝦(エビ) (sakura-ebi)
桜(さくら)麻(お) (sakurao)
桜(さくら)縅(おどし) (sakura-odoshi)
桜(さくら)鹿(が)の子(こ) (Sakuraga-no-ko)
桜(さくら)会(かい) (Sakura-kai)
桜(サクラ)貝(ガイ) (sakuragai)
桜(さくら)狩(がり), 桜(さくら)狩(が)り (sakuragari)
桜(さくら)襲(がさね), 桜(さくら)重(がさね) (sakura-gasane)
桜(さくら)紙(がみ) (sakura-gami)
桜(さくら)粥(がゆ) (sakura-gayu)
桜(さくら)川(がわ) (Sakuragawa)
桜(さくら)木(ぎ) (sakuragi)
桜(さくら)区(く) (Sakura-ku)
桜(サクラ)草(グサ) (sakuragusa)
桜(さくら)御飯(ごはん) (sakura gohan)
桜(サクラ)サイト (sakura saito)
桜(さくら)島(じま) (Sakurajima)
桜(さくら)炭(ずみ) (Sakura-zumi)
桜(さくら)前線(ぜんせん) (sakura zensen, “cherry-blossom front”)
桜(サクラ)草(ソウ) (sakurasō)
桜(さくら)田(だ) (Sakurada)
桜(サクラ)鯛(ダイ) (sakuradai)
桜(サクラ)蓼(タデ) (sakuratade, “Persicaria conspicua”)
桜(さくら)チーズ (sakura chīzu)
桜(さくら)茶屋(ぢゃや) (sakura-jaya)
桜(さくら)月(づき) (sakurazuki)
桜(さくら)尽(づ)くし, 桜(さくら)尽(づく)し (sakura-zukushi)
桜(さくら)漬(づけ), 桜(さくら)漬(づ)け (sakura-zuke)
桜(さくら)灯籠(どうろう) (sakura-dōrō)
桜(さくら)時(どき) (sakura-doki)
桜鍋(さくらなべ) (sakuranabe)
桜(さくら)肉(にく) (sakura niku)
桜(サクラ)海苔(ノリ) (sakura nori)
桜(さくら)灰(ばい) (Sakura-bai)
桜花(さくらばな) (sakurabana)
桜(さくら)人(びと) (sakura-bito)
桜(さくら)吹雪(ふぶき) (sakura fubuki, “flurry of falling cherry blossoms”)
桜(さくら)乾(ぼ)し (sakuraboshi)
桜(サクラ)鱒(マス) (sakuramasu, “cherry salmon”, Oncorhynchus masou)
桜(さくら)間(ま) (Sakurama)
桜(さくら)丸(まる) (Sakuramaru)
桜(さくら)味噌(みそ) (sakura miso)
桜(さくら)結(むす)び (sakura musubi)
桜(さくら)飯(めし) (sakurameshi)
桜(さくら)餅(もち) (sakuramochi)
桜(さくら)紅葉(もみじ) (sakura momiji)
桜(さくら)守(もり) (sakuramori)
桜(さくら)湯(ゆ) (sakurayu)
さくらレポート (Sakura-repōto)
桜桃(さくらんぼ) (sakuranbo)
桜(さくら)ん坊(ぼう) (sakuranbō)
桜(サクラ)蘭(ラン) (sakuraran, “Hoya carnosa”)
浅(アサ)葱(ギ)桜(ザクラ) (asagi-zakura)
徒(あだ)桜(ざくら) (adazakura)
秋(アキ)桜(ザクラ) (akizakura)
朝(あさ)桜(ざくら) (asa-zakura)
有明(アリアケ)桜(ザクラ) (ariake-zakura)
家(いえ)桜(ざくら) (ie-zakura)
石(いし)割(わ)り桜(ざくら) (ishiwari-zakura)
糸(イト)桜(ザクラ) (itozakura)
渦(ウズ)桜(ザクラ) (uzuzakura)
薄(うす)桜(ざくら) (usuzakura)
淡墨(うすずみ)-桜(ざくら) (Usuzumi-zakura)
薄花(うすはな)桜(ざくら) (usuhana-zakura)
雲珠(ウズ)桜(ザクラ) (uzu-zakura)
姥(うば)桜(ざくら) (ubazakura)
上溝(ウワミズ)桜(サクラ), 上(ウワ)不見(ミズ)桜(サクラ) (uwamizu sakura, “Prunus grayana”)
江戸(エド)桜(ザクラ) (Edo-zakura)
大島(オオシマ)桜(ザクラ) (Ōshima-zakura)
遅(おそ)桜(ざくら) (osozakura)
霞(カスミ)桜(ザクラ) (kasumizakura)
堅(カタ)桜(ザクラ) (katazakura)
樺(カニワ)桜(ザクラ) (kaniwazakura)
樺(カバ)桜(ザクラ) (kabazakura)
河(カワ)津(ヅ)桜(ザクラ) (Kawazu-zakura)
寒(カン)桜(ザクラ) (kanzakura)
寒(カン)緋(ヒ)桜(ザクラ) (kanhi-zakura)
黄(キ)桜(ザクラ) (kizakura)
葛(くず)桜(ざくら) (kuzuzakura)
朽(く)ち木(き)桜(ざくら) (kuchiki-zakura)
熊谷(クマガイ)桜(ザクラ) (Kumagai-zakura)
雲(くも)居(い)の桜(さくら) (kumoi no sakura)
小(コ)米(ゴメ)桜(ザクラ) (kogome-zakura)
小(こ)桜(ざくら) (kozakura)
御(ゴ)所(ショ)桜(ザクラ) (gosho-zakura)
零(こぼ)れ桜(ざくら) (kobore-zakura)
金剛(コンゴウ)桜(ザクラ) (kongō-zakura)
西行(さいぎょう)桜(ざくら) (Saigyō-zakura)
左(さ)近(こん)の桜(さくら) (Sakon no sakura)
里(サト)桜(ザクラ) (satozakura)
塩竈(シオガマ)桜(ザクラ) (shiogama-zakura)
四季(シキ)桜(ザクラ) (shiki-zakura)
垂(しだ)り桜(ざくら) (shidari-zakura, “Prunus pendula”)
枝(し)垂(だ)れ桜(ざくら), 垂(シダレ)桜(ザクラ) (shidare-zakura)
四手(シデ)桜(ザクラ) (shide-zakura)
芝(シバ)桜(ザクラ) (shibazakura, “Phlox subulata”)
十(ジュウ)月(ガツ)桜(ザクラ) (jūgatsu-zakura)
秋色(しゅうしき)桜(ざくら) (Shūshiki-zakura)
白(シロ)桜(ザクラ) (shirozakura)
神代(じんだい)桜(ざくら) (Jindai-zakura)
墨染(スミゾメ)桜(ザクラ) (sumizome-zakura)
千本(せんぼん)桜(ざくら) (Senbonzakura)
田打(たう)ち桜(ざくら) (tauchi-zakura)
高(タカ)嶺(ネ)桜(ザクラ) (takane-zakura)
滝(たき)桜(ざくら) (Takizakura)
種(たね)蒔(ま)き桜(ざくら) (tanemaki-zakura)
丁(チョウ)子(ジ)-桜(ザクラ) (chōjizakura)
栂(ツガ)桜(ザクラ) (tsugazakura)
同(どう)期(き)の桜(さくら) (dōki no sakura)
遠(とお)山(やま)桜(ざくら) (tōyama-zakura)
南(な)殿(でん)の桜(さくら) (Naden no sakura)
匂(ニオイ)桜(ザクラ) (nioi-zakura)
庭(ニワ)桜(ザクラ) (niwazakura, “Prunus glandulosa”)
葉(は)桜(ざくら) (hazakura)
彼(ヒ)岸(ガン)桜(ザクラ) (higan-zakura)
緋(ヒ)寒(カン)桜(ザクラ) (hikanzakura)
緋(ヒ)桜(ザクラ) (hizakura)
美(ビ)女(ジョ)桜(ザクラ) (bijozakura, “Verbena phlogiflora”)
一(ひと)重(え)桜(ざくら) (hitoe-zakura)
総(フサ)桜(ザクラ) (fusazakura, “Euptelea polyandra”)
富士(フジ)桜(ザクラ) (fujizakura)
不(フ)断(ダン)桜(ザクラ) (fudan-zakura)
牡(ボ)丹(タン)桜(ザクラ) (botan-zakura)
豆(マメ)桜(ザクラ) (mamezakura, “Prunus incisa”)
実(ミ)桜(ザクラ) (mizakura)
峰(ミネ)桜(ザクラ), 嶺(ミネ)桜(ザクラ) (minezakura, “Prunus nipponica”)
御(み)階(はし)の桜(さくら) (Mihashi no sakura)
深(ミ)山(ヤマ)桜(ザクラ) (miyama-zakura)
八重(ヤエ)桜(ザクラ) (yaezakura)
山(ヤマ)桜(ザクラ) (yamazakura)
夜(よ)桜(ざくら) (yozakura)
夕(ゆう)桜(ざくら) (yūzakura)
楊(ヨウ)貴(キ)妃(ヒ)桜(ザクラ) (yōkihi-zakura)
吉(ヨシ)野(ノ)桜(ザクラ) (Yoshino-zakura)
若(わか)桜(ざくら) (waka-zakura)

Proverbs

桜(さくら)切(き)る馬鹿(ばか)梅(うめ)切(き)らぬ馬鹿(ばか) (sakura kiru baka ume kiranu baka, “foolish to prune cherry trees but not to prune plum trees”)
明日(あす)ありと思(おも)う心(こころ)の仇(あだ)桜(ざくら) (asu ari to omō kokoro no ada-zakura)
梅(うめ)と桜(さくら) (ume to sakura)
五月(さつき)の桜(さくら)で葉(は)ばかりさま (satsuki no sakura de ha-bakari-sama)
三(みっ)日(か)見(み)ぬ間(ま)の桜(さくら) (mikka minu ma no sakura)

Descendants

English: sakura
Indonesian: sakura
Kavalan: sakula
Korean: 사꾸라 (sakkura, “spy”)
Kunigami: 桜 (sakūra)
Okinawan: 桜 (sakura)
Portuguese: sakura

Proper noun

桜(さくら) • (Sakura) (kyūjitai 櫻)

a female given name
a placename
a surname
a piece of koto music, often entitled Sakura Sakura in English:
さくら　さくら　弥生(やよい)の空(そら)は　見(み)渡(わた)す限(かぎ)り…
sakura sakura yayoi no sora wa miwatasu kagiri…
Cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, across the spring sky, as far as the eye can see.
a piece of music played at the start of 平曲 (Heikyoku, retelling of The Tale of the Heike with 琵琶 (biwa, “lute accompaniment”))

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
桜
おう Grade: 5
kan’on

Alternative spelling
櫻 (kyūjitai)

/au/ → /ɔː/ → /oː/

From Middle Chinese 櫻 (MC ʔˠɛŋ).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [o̞ː]

Affix

桜(おう) • (ō) ^{←あう (au)^?} (kyūjitai 櫻)

cherry tree
cherry tree that bears edible fruit
(US) Short for サクラメント／桜府 (Sakuramento, “Sacramento (a city in California, United States)”).

Derived terms

桜蔭(おういん)会(かい) (Ōinkai)
桜(おう)雲(うん) (ōun)
桜(おう)花(か) (ōka)
桜樹(おうじゅ) (ōju)
桜唇(おうしん) (ōshin)
桜桃(おうとう) (ōtō)
桜(おう)皮(ひ) (ōhi)
桜門(おうもん)会(かい) (Ōmonkai)
桜友(おうゆう)会(かい) (Ōyūkai)
観桜(かんおう) (kan'ō)
残桜(ざんおう) (zan'ō)
老桜(ろうおう) (rōō)

References

1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan
Martin, Samuel E. (1987) The Japanese Language Through Time, New Haven, London: Yale University Press, →ISBN
2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN
Laurel Rasplica Rodd; Mary Catherine Henkenius (1996) Kokinshū: A Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern (C & T Asian literature series; C & T Asian languages series), reprint edition, Cheng & Tsui, →ISBN, page 288
Princess Shikishi; Hiroaki Sato (1993) String of Beads: Complete Poems of Princess Shikishi (A publication of the School of Hawaiian, Asian & Pacific studies; SHAPS library of translations), illustrated edition, University of Hawaii Press, →ISBN, page 77

Okinawan

Etymology

From Japanese 桜 (sakura).

Pronunciation

(Shuri-Naha) さくら[sáꜜkùrà] (Kakō - [1])
IPA^(key): [sakuɾa]

Noun

桜 (hiragana さくら, rōmaji sakura)

a cherry tree

Derived terms

桜色 (sakura-iro)
桜島 (Sakurajima)
桜花 (sakurabana)

[KDJ-1] 1988, 国語大辞典（新装版） (Kokugo Dai Jiten, Revised Edition) (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Shogakukan

[2] Martin, Samuel E. (1987) The Japanese Language Through Time, New Haven, London: Yale University Press, →ISBN

[DJR-3] 2006, 大辞林 (Daijirin), Third Edition (in Japanese), Tōkyō: Sanseidō, →ISBN

[4] Laurel Rasplica Rodd; Mary Catherine Henkenius (1996) Kokinshū: A Collection of Poems Ancient and Modern (C & T Asian literature series; C & T Asian languages series), reprint edition, Cheng & Tsui, →ISBN, page 288

[5] Princess Shikishi; Hiroaki Sato (1993) String of Beads: Complete Poems of Princess Shikishi (A publication of the School of Hawaiian, Asian & Pacific studies; SHAPS library of translations), illustrated edition, University of Hawaii Press, →ISBN, page 77