VOX POPULI: Contrary to forecasts, spring hasn’t quite sprung yet
The Japanese word for spring, “haru,” has a really light and cheerful ring to it.
But what if the word were “baru” and not “haru”? The difference is almost negligible, but the image of the season we get may differ greatly between the two.
I once came across a Japanese linguistic study claiming that any word containing a syllable with the “dakuten” diacritic, or “voice mark,” gives an impression of being “heavy.”
The study also posited that the more syllables a noun contains, the “stronger” it sounds.
Perhaps that explains why “haru” sounds light and airy--the opposite of heavy and strong.
In Korean, the word for spring is pronounced “pom." This, too, gives a lighthearted and soft impression.
As for the English “spring,” it sounds--well, bouncy. No surprise: Synonyms of “spring” include “leap” and “jump.” One associates these words with a feeling of anticipation for the start of something new.
In reality, however, spring as a season is obviously not all mild and pleasant. On the contrary, the weather can be outright rough and nasty, with cold rains and gusty winds.
“March comes in like a lion, out like a lamb” is a famous British saying.
In Japan, the “higan” equinoctial week ends on March 23.
According to weather forecasts, the mild winter we had this year was supposed to be followed by an early arrival of spring. But we still need warm jackets. It is as if spring is now being sullen and mean, having taken offense at being told off, “You’re too early.”
A haiku by Fusei Tomiyasu (1885-1979) goes to the effect, “Time has passed/ For all I know/ higan is already over.”
Gazing up at cherry blossom buds that don’t seem to be opening any time soon, I murmur to myself: Come quickly, mild and warm spring.
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 23
* *
*Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Related articles
Norwegian Cruise Line, Wix.com rise; Cushman & Wakefield, Target fall, Monday, 5/20/2024
NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes on Monday:Johnson Contro2024-05-21Is a 99% mortgage really that bad? This is Money podcast
The row over small deposit mortgage is the gift that keeps on giving.Hot on the heels of the Budget2024-05-21Revealed: The 20 best walks in Britain (and the maps that show you the perfect route)
Spring is in the air — and there's no better time to stretch your legs and catch a breath of fresh a2024-05-21Globetrotting couple share stunning photos from visits to 75 countries
If these photos don't spark your wanderlust - nothing will. They've been taken by travel couple Dani2024-05-21China vows to actively promote restoration of int'l flights
BEIJING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China's civil aviation authorities have committed to boosting the freque2024-05-21- Why are some London council estates considered notorious while others are arguably the most desirabl2024-05-21
atest comment