春分（しゅんぶん、shunbuん）
- spring equinox

春分 means "Spring Equinox". It’s a significant day in the traditional Japanese calendar, marking the beginning of spring and a time when the length of day and night are almost equal. It's considered a national holiday in Japan. It is often associated with ancestor worship and visiting family graves. The word itself describes the division of the season.

⚫︎今日は春分の日です。 Translation: Today is the Spring Equinox. ⚫︎春分にはお墓参りに行きます。 Translation: I go to visit family graves on the Spring Equinox.

This word is used to refer to the Spring Equinox as a specific date and holiday. You can use it when talking about the date itself, or the events and traditions associated with it. You would use 春分 to discuss the holiday, the season, or the customs surrounding it. For example, if you are planning a trip to Japan, you might say: "We will be in Japan during 春分.”

春分 is typically written in kanji. The reading is しゅんぶん in hiragana. There are no other common ways to write this word. The okurigana is not applicable here.

There aren't direct synonyms for 春分 because it is a specific calendar event. However, phrases related to the start of spring or the equinox can be used to convey a similar meaning.

There isn't a direct antonym. However, one could consider words associated with the Autumn Equinox.

春分の日には、家族みんなでお寺にお参りに行きました。 ・Translation: On the Spring Equinox, the whole family went to the temple to pray. ・Explanation: This sentence describes an activity that takes place on 春分.

今年は春分が３月２０日です。 ・Translation: This year the Spring Equinox is on March 20th. ・Explanation: This sentence gives the date for the Spring Equinox.

The word 春分 is formed from the kanji 春（しゅん, meaning "spring") and 分（ぶん, meaning "division" or "equal part"). It literally means "spring division," reflecting the time when day and night are almost of equal length, which divides the year between winter and spring.