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
- A small group of NFL rookies from the 2024 class, including Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, sat down2024-05-21
Osaka plays solidly in her opening match at the Italian Open. Darderi eliminates Shapovalov
ROME (AP) — Naomi Osaka looked comfortable in her opening match at the Italian Open, beating 45th-ra2024-05-21Osaka plays solidly in her opening match at the Italian Open. Darderi eliminates Shapovalov
ROME (AP) — Naomi Osaka looked comfortable in her opening match at the Italian Open, beating 45th-ra2024-05-21PrettyLittleThing billionaire Umar Kamani and new wife Nada host Disney
How to ensure your truly extravagant four-day wedding comes to a fairytale end...with a dusting of D2024-05-21OpenAI pauses ChatGPT voice after Scarlett Johansson comparisons
NEW YORK (AP) — OpenAI says it plans to halt the use of one of its ChatGPT voices after some users s2024-05-21Chinese leader Xi Jinping set to meet Serbian officials on the second leg of his Europe tour
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Chinese leader Xi Jinping is set to meet Wednesday with Serbian officials an2024-05-21
atest comment