How to say "season" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounCovers the season as the period in which regulated games are played, as in sports. Use it for a baseball or soccer season, not for spring or summer.
- 季節きせつno-adjectiveThe usual word for a season of the year such as spring, summer, autumn, or winter, and for the time of year generally. This is the default choice for weather- or climate-related senses.
- 時期じきnoun, adverbMeans a time, period, or phase rather than a calendar season. Choose it when 'season' really means a stage or span of time, such as a busy period or a phase of life.
- 旬しゅんno-adjectiveRefers to the season for fruit, seafood, and similar foods, or the best time of the year for something. Use it when talking about produce or catches being in season.
- 時分じぶんnounGlossed as time, hour, or season, but it is really about a time or hour rather than a season of the year. It is seldom the word you want for the ordinary senses of 'season'.
Use 季節 for the four seasons or time of year, 「シーズン」 for sports and other regulated game periods, 旬 for when foods are at their best, 時期 for a general period or phase, and 時分 only loosely for a time or hour.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- シーズンseason (period in which regulated games are played)
- 季節きせつseason
- 時期じきtime
- 旬しゅんseason (for fruit, seafood, etc.)
- 時分じぶんtime
- 時節じせつseason
- セゾンseason
- 時季じきseason
- 時候じこうseason
- 利かすきかすto bring out (the effect of)
- 利かせるきかせるto bring out (the effect of)
- 候こうseason
- 枯らすからすto let dry
- 季候きこうseason
- 季きseason (in nature, sports, etc.)
- 味をつけるあじをつけるto season (e.g. with salt)
- 出盛りでさかりbest time for (corn, etc.)
- 味を調えるあじをととのえるto flavor
- 盛りさかりheight (e.g. of summer)
- 時ときchance
- ころtime of year
- 陽気ようきweather
- 最盛期さいせいきseason (for fruit, vegetables, etc.)
- 時どきseason
- 本チャンほんチャンgame
- 期きseason (e.g. of a TV series)
- 節せつseason
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
