The Reading of a Difficult Winter Kigo: How to Pronounce "冬麗"?

Jan 22, 2024 | News On Japan

Deciphering Challenging Kanji: The Correct Way to Read Winter's Elegance

TOKYO - Dengeki Online's serialized feature "Difficult-to-Read Kanji" continues to challenge readers with a wide range of characters, from those with readings so complex they're hard to imagine, to those that seem simple at first glance but are difficult to read.

The Reading of a Difficult Winter Kigo: How to Pronounce

The feature is overseen by "Kyōji Yanoha," a humble calligrapher who lives with his cat. In this installment, we'll introduce kanji that might not be immediately readable, so let's think about them together!

Today's challenging kanji is "冬麗." Does it read as "winter beauty"? Here's a hint: ○yu○○ra. It's a word used as a seasonal term in haiku. The answer is "fuyuurara"! It describes a scene where, despite the cold of winter, the sunlight is bright and the weather is clear and pleasant. It's a seasonal term that expresses a serene climate.

Generally, in regions on the Pacific side of Japan, there are many clear days in winter. On the other hand, the Sea of Japan side is often associated with snow. In Pacific regions, haiku using "冬麗" can be quite popular.

Stay tuned for more introductions to challenging kanji in the future!

Source: Dengeki

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