175Japanese proverb ことわざ
花七日
はななのかHana nanoka
“Blossoms last seven days.”
The meaning
The cherry bloom holds one week: it is short, and that is why it is celebrated. The most beautiful things have a season — honoring them means being there when they open.
At the origin
A saying tied to hanami, the viewing of cherry blossoms.
The characters
In practice
A beautiful season is opening somewhere in your life: be fully there.
Themes
Similar proverbs
- 168 菜の花や月は東に日は西に Field of rapeseed — the moon in the east, the sun in the west.
- 206 人の噂も七十五日 A rumor lives but seventy-five days.
- 101 月に叢雲、花に風 Over the moon, gathering clouds; over blossoms, wind.
- 106 秋の日は釣瓶落とし The autumn sun drops like a well bucket.
- 009 思い立ったが吉日 The best day to begin is the day you think of it.