季

音読おんよみ:

訓読くんよみ: none *

画数かくすう: 8 strokes

部首ぶしゅ: 子(こ)

Meaning

Season, term, time of year — Often used in reference to one of the four seasons, or in time-related contexts.


  • 季節きせつ — season
  • 四季しき — four seasons
  • 雨季うき — rainy season
  • 乾季かんき — dry season
  • 年季ねんき — term of service

季 is formed from the character 子 (child) and phonetic elements indicating a short cycle or period. It symbolizes recurring, cyclical phases — especially seasonal ones — and is deeply tied to nature, time, and traditional culture.

日本にほんには 四季しきがあります。
Japan has four distinct seasons.

いま雨季うきなので、毎日まいにち雨がっています。
It’s the rainy season now, so it rains every day.

🎧 Listen to the Japanese and English readings of this kanji.

◀︎ Full List ▶︎