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JLPT N110画 · 10 strokesradical 木grade 4freq #1232

plum

On'yomi (音読み)

  • バイ

Kun'yomi (訓読み)

  • うめ

Mnemonic

Imagine a blooming plum tree (木) bursting with juicy fruit, as children joyfully gather the plums from the branches.

About this kanji

The kanji 梅 (ume) primarily means "plum," referring to both the fruit and the tree. It is often used as a noun. You might encounter it in various compounds, such as 梅雨 (tsuyu), which means "rainy season" and signifies the period from early June to mid-July in Japan. Another example is 梅干し (umeboshi), a popular pickled ume fruit often served with rice. The term 塩梅 (anbai) refers to seasoning or balance in flavors. One interesting fact is that 梅 is also significant in Japanese culture, symbolizing resilience as its blossoms bloom even in winter.

Example sentences

  • 梅の花が咲き始めた。

    The plum blossoms have begun to bloom.

Meanings across languages

English
plum
Tiếng Việt
mận
日本語
한국어
매실
中文
id
plum
th
บ๊วย
es
ciruela
fr
prunier
de
Pflaume
pt
ameixa

Common compounds

  • 梅雨つゆ(East Asian) rainy season (in Japan, usu. from early June to mid-July), rain during the rainy season
  • 塩梅あんばいseasoning, flavour, flavor
  • 青梅あおうめunripe plum
  • 梅干しうめぼしumeboshi, pickled dried ume, pickled dried plum
  • 梅雨入りつゆいりentering the rainy season, beginning of the rainy season
  • 梅雨明けつゆあけend of the rainy season
  • 梅雨前線ばいうぜんせんseasonal rain front
  • 梅酒うめしゅume liqueur, Japanese plum brandy, unripe ume infused in liquor (esp. shōchū) with added sugar

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