Meaning
Season, term, time of year — Often used in reference to one of the four seasons, or in time-related contexts.
- 季節 — season
- 四季 — four seasons
- 雨季 — rainy season
- 乾季 — dry season
- 年季 — 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.
日本には 四季があります。
Japan has four distinct seasons.
今は 雨季なので、毎日雨が降っています。
It’s the rainy season now, so it rains every day.
🎧 Listen to the Japanese and English readings of this kanji.