春: the kanji for spring
春 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means spring. Below are its readings, 10 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
春 is written in 9 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
春 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 10 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
シュン (shun)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 春分しゅんぶん · shunbun | spring equinox |
| 青春せいしゅん · seishun | youth |
| 立春りっしゅん · risshun | first day of spring (lunar calendar) |
| 新春しんしゅん · shinshun | New Year |
| 春季しゅんき · shunki | spring season |
| 春闘しゅんとう · shuntō | spring wage negotiations |
はる (haru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 春はる · haru | spring |
| 春休みはるやすみ · haruyasumi | spring break |
| 春先はるさき · harusaki | early spring |
| 春物はるもの · harumono | spring clothing |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 日本の新年度は春に始まります。Nihon no shinnendo wa haru ni hajimarimasu.The new fiscal year in Japan starts in spring.
- 春休みに家族が日本に来ます。Haruyasumi ni kazoku ga Nihon ni kimasu.My family is coming to Japan during spring break.
- 春分の日は祝日です。Shunbun no hi wa shukujitsu desu.Vernal Equinox Day is a national holiday.
- 新春のお慶びを申し上げます。Shinshun no o-yorokobi o mōshiagemasu.Happy New Year. (formal greeting)
- 春闘で賃上げが決まりました。Shuntō de chin'age ga kimarimashita.A pay raise was agreed in the spring wage talks.
- デパートで春物のコートを買いました。Depāto de harumono no kōto o kaimashita.I bought a spring coat at the department store.
Questions about 春
How many strokes does 春 have?
春 is written in 9 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 春?
The on readings are shun (シュン). The kun readings are haru (はる).
Why does 新春 mean New Year?
In the old lunar calendar, the new year began around the start of spring. That is why New Year's cards still use words like 新春 (shinshun, new spring) and 迎春 (geishun, welcoming spring).
What JLPT level is 春?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Time and seasons
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 春
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.