この花

Japanese

Kanji in this term
花
はな Grade: 1
kun’yomi

Alternative forms

• 此の花

Etymology

Shift from 木の花 (ko no hana, “flower of a tree”).

Literally “this flower”. The "plum blossom" sense is based from Wani's poem in the kana preface of the Kokin Wakashū (see usage example), while the "chrysanthemum flower" sense is based on a verse by Yuan Zhen.

Noun

この花(はな) • (kono hana) 

1. Synonym of 梅の花 (ume no hana, “plum blossoms”)
   • 905–914, Kokin Wakashū (kana preface)

     難(なに)波(は)津(づ)に咲(さ)くや木(こ)の花(はな)冬(ふゆ)ごもり今(いま)は春(はる)辺(べ)と咲(さ)くやこの花(はな)

     Naniwa-zu ni sakuya ko no hana fuyu-gomori ima wa harube to sakuya kono hana

     After a long hibernation, in Naniwa-zu, blooming plum blossoms proclaim spring.

     [Note: In 競技カルタ (kyōgi karuta, “competitive karuta”), the opening poem changes ima wa harube to to 今を春辺と (ima o harube to, “now spring has come”).]

2. Synonym of 菊の花 (kiku no hana, “chrysanthemum flowers”)
3. Synonym of 桜の花 (sakura no hana, “cherry blossoms”)
4. (colloquial) an imperial prince

   Synonym: 親王 (shinnō)

5. (historical, colloquial) in the Edo period, a brand of alcoholic drink, or the drink itself

   Synonym: 酒 (sake)

6. salted plums candied with sugar