季節

• Reading: きせつ
• Romaji: kisetsu
• Kanji breakdown: 季 (ki) — season; 節 (setsu) — section, joint
• Pronunciation: /ki.se.tsɯ/

Meaning

Season (of the year). The divisions of the year based on weather patterns.

Japan has four distinct seasons (春夏秋冬) which play a central role in culture, cuisine, and daily life. 季節 often appears with の to modify nouns: 季節の果物 (seasonal fruit), 季節の変わり目 (change of seasons).

Examples

1. 日本には四つの季節がある。 Japan has four seasons.
2. 季節の変わり目は体調を崩しやすい。 It's easy to get sick when the seasons change.
3. 好きな季節は秋です。 My favorite season is fall.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, daily life, food

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 季 (season, period) and 節 (joint, section). Together they describe the natural divisions of the year.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal