牡丹（ぼたん、botan）
- peony

The word 牡丹 (ぼたん) refers to the peony flower. ⚫︎ It's known for its large, showy blooms and is often associated with beauty, wealth, and elegance in Japanese culture. ⚫︎ The peony is a perennial plant with a relatively short blooming season, typically in the spring. ⚫︎ Different varieties exist, with colors ranging from vibrant reds and pinks to whites and yellows. ⚫︎ The flower's large size and intricate petals make it a popular subject in art, poetry, and traditional crafts.

⚫︎ 庭に牡丹が咲いています。 Translation: There are peonies blooming in the garden. ⚫︎ 牡丹の花は美しいですね。 Translation: Peony flowers are beautiful, aren't they? ⚫︎ この絵は牡丹を描いたものです。 Translation: This picture is of peonies.

⚫︎ You can use 牡丹 in conversations when you're talking about the flower itself, or referring to it symbolically. ⚫︎ It's suitable for describing gardens, art, or anything else related to peonies. ⚫︎ It's a relatively formal word, so it's most appropriate in polite conversation or in more descriptive contexts. ⚫︎ For instance, when describing the flower in detail, or discussing its appearance in a painting.

⚫︎ 牡丹 is typically written in kanji: 牡丹. ⚫︎ The reading, in hiragana, is ぼたん. ⚫︎ There are no common variations in the writing or okurigana.

There are no direct synonyms for the word 牡丹 itself, as it refers to a specific flower. However, when describing something's beauty or elegance, you might use words like: ⚫︎ 美しい (utsukushii) - beautiful ⚫︎ 華麗な (kareina) - gorgeous, splendid ⚫︎ 豪華な (gōkana) - luxurious, magnificent

There aren't direct antonyms for 牡丹 as it's a noun.

母は牡丹の花を育てるのが好きです。 ・Translation: My mother likes to grow peony flowers. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a personal preference related to the flower.

この着物の柄は、見事な牡丹のデザインです。 ・Translation: The pattern of this kimono is a magnificent peony design. ・Explanation: This sentence uses 牡丹 to describe a decorative element, showcasing its association with beauty and art.

The word 牡丹 is of Chinese origin. The kanji 牡丹 (mǔdān in Mandarin) were adopted into Japanese. The characters represent the meaning: "mǔ" (母) is "mother" and "dān" (丹) indicates "red." This potentially alludes to the peony's common red color, as well as the plant's importance.