Japanese kanji for flower: 花 — writing and readings
The Japanese kanji for flower is 花, 7 strokes. It is read 'hana' (kun'yomi はな) and 'ka' (on'yomi カ). 'Flower in Japanese' is 花 (hana). At the top of the character is the radical 'grass' ⺾, so it is easy to recognize among plants: 草 (grass), 茶 (tea), 苦 (bitter).
In Japanese, 花 without further specification often means sakura: when people say 花見 — 'viewing flowers', no one specifies which flowers. That's how cultural convention works: one flower is so important that it took the general word for itself.
How to write the Japanese kanji for flower
花 — значение: flower — онъёми: カ、ケ — кунъёми: はな — 7 штрих(ов). 7 strokes. Click 'Show order' — the strokes will go as in handwriting.
The 'grass' radical on top
Two short verticals with a horizontal on top is ⺾, the compressed form of 艸 'grass'. It stands above hundreds of characters about plants: 草 (grass), 葉 (leaf), 茶 (tea), 薬 (medicine — once herbal). If you see it, the word is almost certainly about something growing.
Words with the flower kanji
| Japanese | Reading | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 花 | hana · hana | Flower |
| 花見 | hanami · hanami | Cherry blossom viewing |
| 花火 | hanabi · hanabi | Fireworks — 'flowers of fire' |
| 花屋 | hanaya · hanaya | Flower shop |
| 生け花 | ikebana · ikebana | The art of flower arrangement (literally 'bringing flowers to life') |
| 花嫁 | hanayome · hanayome | Bride ('flower-bride') |
| 花言葉 | hanakotoba · hanakotoba | Language of flowers |
Hanakotoba — the language of flowers
花言葉 is a Japanese system of flower meanings, similar to the European one, but with its own nuances: red camellia — 'modest endurance', white chrysanthemum — 'truth', and potted plants are not given in hospitals because 'taking root' sounds like a wish to stay in bed.
Write 花 yourself
Trace the character along the guides — the system will evaluate each stroke.
FAQ
- Which Japanese kanji means flower?
- 花 — 7 strokes. Kun'yomi はな (hana), on'yomi カ (ka): 花瓶 (kabin) 'vase', 開花 (kaika) 'blooming'.
- How do you say 'flower' in Japanese?
- 花 (hana). The same word appears in 花火 (hanabi) 'fireworks' and 花見 (hanami) 'flower viewing'.
- What is the element on top of 花?
- The radical ⺾ 'grass'. It indicates that the character is related to plants: 草 grass, 葉 leaf, 茶 tea, 薬 medicine.
- How is the word 'ikebana' related?
- 生け花 consists of 生ける 'to bring to life' and 花 'flower': the art of arranging flowers so that the composition looks alive.
Updated: 2026-07-25