Japanese word of the day: 花吹雪 (Hanafubuki)

What does 花吹雪 (Hanafubuki) mean?

花吹雪 (Hanafubuki) [noun] — falling cherry blossoms; storm of falling cherry blossoms.

Today’s word captures that fleeting beauty. It’s a word that paints a vivid picture of nature’s elegance, reminding us of the charm in things that are both vibrant and short-lived.

Kanji details for 花, 吹 and 雪

花 — flower (はな)
Radical: grass (艹)

吹 — blow, breathe, puff, emit, smoke (ふ)
Radical: mouth, opening (口)

雪 — snow (ぶき)
Radical: rain (雨)

Example sentences with 花吹雪 (Hanafubuki)

• 公園で桜の花吹雪が舞い、まるで夢の世界のようだった。

  (Kōen de sakura no hanafubuki ga mai, marude yume no sekai no yō datta.)

  🌸 A flurry of cherry blossoms danced in the park, making it feel like a dreamlike world.

• アイドルのライブで紙吹雪じゃなくて花吹雪が降ってきた！

  (Aidoru no raibu de kamifubuki ja nakute hanafubuki ga futte kita!)

  🎶 At the idol concert, instead of confetti, flower petals rained down!

• 花吹雪のように、美しいものほど儚い。

  (Hanafubuki no yō ni, utsukushii mono hodo hakanai.)

  🎐 Like a flurry of falling blossoms, the most beautiful things are often fleeting.

花吹雪 (Hanafubuki) in context

Use it in contexts tied to nature, beauty, or fleeting moments, such as describing a park scene or a romantic setting. Avoid using it for literal storms or unrelated falling objects—it's specific to cherry blossoms. For example, you wouldn’t use "花吹雪" (Hanafubuki) to describe leaves or snow falling. It’s perfect for describing moments during hanami (cherry blossom viewing) when petals fall gracefully, creating a magical atmosphere.