SumiMomiji and koyo: the kanji for autumn leaves (紅葉)
紅葉 means autumn leaves: 紅, crimson, and 葉, leaves, the reds and golds that cover Japan’s hills every autumn. The same two kanji have two readings. Momiji (もみじ) is the native Japanese word, and it can also mean the Japanese maple; kouyou (こうよう), often spelled koyo in English, is the Chinese-style reading, and it’s the word in weather reports and travel guides.
What the kanji say
紅 (kou, or beni) is crimson, a deep red. The 糸 on its left is silk thread, because 紅 began as the name of a colour of dyed silk, and 工 on the right gives the sound. It’s also in 紅茶 (koucha), black tea, literally “crimson tea”, and 口紅 (kuchibeni), lipstick, “mouth red”.
葉 (ha, or you) is a leaf. The 艹 on top marks plants, and the part underneath gives the sound. On its own, 葉 is read は (ha), and in everyday speech people often say 葉っぱ (happa).
Put them together and 紅葉 is crimson leaves, which is just what the video says.
Two readings, one spelling
Kouyou came from Chinese along with the kanji: in Chinese, 紅葉 already meant red leaves. It’s the word for the leaves changing colour, and you’ll see it in the news, in travel guides and in 紅葉前線 (kouyou zensen), the autumn-colour front that forecasts follow down the country.
Momiji is a native Japanese word. It comes from an old Japanese verb, もみつ (momitsu), later もみづ (momizu), which meant to change colour, said of leaves in autumn. So momiji names both the turning and the coloured leaves, and it’s also a common name for the Japanese maple, whose small, hand-shaped leaves are the classic picture of autumn in Japan.
When a native word like momiji borrows a kanji pair for its meaning, the reading belongs to the whole pair, not to each kanji. This kind of reading is called 熟字訓 (jukujikun). It’s also why momiji has other spellings: 黄葉, with 黄, yellow, and 椛, a kanji made in Japan from 木, tree, and 花, flower.
How to use it
紅葉がきれいですね。
Kouyou ga kirei desu ne.
The autumn leaves are beautiful, aren't they?
京都へ紅葉を見に行きました。
Kyouto e kouyou o mi ni ikimashita.
I went to Kyoto to see the autumn leaves.
紅葉の見頃はいつですか。
Kouyou no migoro wa itsu desu ka.
When are the autumn leaves at their best?
今週末、紅葉狩りに行こう。
Konshuumatsu, momijigari ni ikou.
Let's go and see the autumn leaves this weekend.
もみじの葉っぱを拾いました。
Momiji no happa o hiroimashita.
I picked up a maple leaf.
- Both readings are right when you mean the leaves changing colour, and many people would say 紅葉がきれい either way. Use もみじ when you mean maple leaves in particular.
- 紅葉狩り (momijigari) is “red-leaf hunting”: going out to look at autumn leaves, the way 花見 (hanami) is for cherry blossoms. Nobody picks anything.
- 紅葉 works as a verb, too. 紅葉する (kouyou suru) means the leaves are turning.
- Yellow leaves can be 黄葉 (also kouyou), but in practice 紅葉 covers every autumn colour.
Words with the same kanji
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 紅茶 | koucha | black tea |
| 口紅 | kuchibeni | lipstick |
| 紅白 | kouhaku | red and white |
| 葉っぱ | happa | leaf |
| 言葉 | kotoba | word, language |
| 紅葉狩り | momijigari | going to see autumn leaves |
Remember it
Picture one leaf (葉) dipped in crimson silk dye (紅). Hold it up and use both names: momiji for the maple leaf in your hand, kouyou for the whole hillside turning red.
The kanji in this lesson
Tap Draw it to watch the stroke order. Numbers show where each stroke starts.