Japanese meaning of 花鳥風月
Reading:
かちょうふうげつ (kachou fuugestu)
English Translation:
Beauty of nature; the elegance of the four seasons
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
The appreciation of nature’s beauty, especially the changing seasons, flowers, birds, and the moon.
Cultural Context:
This phrase is deeply tied to Japanese aesthetics, poetry, and traditional arts like haiku, which often depict seasonal beauty.
自然の美しさ、特に四季の移ろいや花・鳥・月などを愛でること。
この言葉は日本の美意識や俳句などの伝統芸術に深く結びついており、四季の美しさを描くことが多い。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase with “を愛でる” or “を味わう” to describe the refined appreciation of natural beauty and seasonal scenery (“花鳥風月を愛でる”).
• Often used in literary or poetic contexts, sometimes metaphorically for cultured taste.
Trap for English Speakers
Might be taken literally as “flowers, birds, wind, moon,” but it denotes a cultural ideal of aesthetic appreciation.
Example
Basic Example
今度の休みは温泉に行って、花鳥風月を味わいたいな。
I want to spend my next holiday at a hot spring, enjoying the beauty of nature.
Applied Example
花鳥風月を愛でる余裕が、彼の心に安らぎを与えた。
Taking time to appreciate the beauty of nature brought peace to his heart.