朝

• Reading: あさ
• Romaji: asa
• Kanji breakdown: 朝 (asa/chou) — morning
• Pronunciation: /a.sa/

Meaning

Morning. The time from dawn until around midday.

Read as あさ. Used in many everyday compounds: 朝ご飯 (asagohan, breakfast), 毎朝 (maiasa, every morning), 今朝 (kesa, this morning). Japanese culture places great value on mornings — the greeting おはようございます is used well into the late morning. In compounds, can also be read as ちょう, as in 朝食 (choushoku, breakfast, formal).

Examples

1. 朝、六時に起きます。 I wake up at six in the morning.
2. 朝ご飯はパンを食べます。 I eat bread for breakfast.
3. 今朝はとても寒かったです。 It was very cold this morning.

Usage Guide

Context: daily routines, greetings, schedules

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 朝 combines elements suggesting the sun rising between plants, depicting the early morning scene when the sun appears on the horizon.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal