Seasonal ingredients can shape a meal or a restaurant menu.

The idea

旬 means the time when an ingredient is at its best; 季節 means a season. 季節のメニュー is a seasonal menu. The examples use polite Japanese.

Patterns to compare
JapaneseMeaning
旬しゅんseason; peak season
季節きせつseason
冷つめたいcold (to the touch)
鍋なべhot pot

Examples

  • 春はるはたけのこが旬しゅんです。Spring bamboo shoots are in season.
  • 夏なつは冷つめたい麺めんを食たべます。In summer I eat cold noodles.
  • 秋あきはきのことご飯はんを炊たきます。In autumn I cook rice with mushrooms.
  • 冬ふゆは家族かぞくと鍋なべを食たべます。In winter I eat a hot pot with my family.
  • 今日きょうの季節きせつのメニューは何なんですか。What is the seasonal menu today?
  • この魚さかなは今いまが旬しゅんです。This fish is in season now.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

旬 is not the name of a particular season. Availability and menus vary by region and year.

Try it yourself

  1. 春はるはたけのこが（旬しゅん／冬ふゆ）です。

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    旬

    旬 means an ingredient is in season; 冬 means winter.

  2. 夏なつは（冷つめたい／寒さむい）麺めんを食たべます。

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    冷たい

    冷たい describes something cold to the touch, such as noodles; 寒い describes cold weather.

  3. 今いまが旬しゅんの魚さかなはどれですか。→ この魚さかなは今いまが＿です。

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    旬

    旬 completes 今が旬: it is in season now.

Use it today

Ask what is on today’s seasonal menu, then describe one food you eat in a season.