Translation guide
Expresses that a fruit, vegetable, or other food is at its peak availability and flavor. Also used for events, activities, or animals that are typical of a particular time of year.
Say that a fruit, vegetable, or seafood is currently in season and at its best.
The most common and natural way to say a food is in season. Can be used as a noun or in phrases.
今、いちごが旬です。
Strawberries are in season now.
旬の食材を使った料理
dishes made with seasonal ingredients
Literally 'to welcome the season', used when a food is just coming into season.
さんまが旬を迎えました。
Pacific saury is now in season.
Refers to the period when something is in season.
桃の旬の時期は夏です。
Peaches are in season in the summer.
Means 'ready to eat' or 'at its best for eating', often used for fruit that is perfectly ripe, not necessarily tied to a season.
このメロンは食べ頃です。
This melon is just right for eating.
Say that an event, activity, or phenomenon is characteristic of a particular season.
Means 'seasonal' and can modify nouns to indicate something is typical of the season.
季節の行事
seasonal events
花見は春の季節の楽しみです。
Cherry blossom viewing is a seasonal pleasure of spring.
Literally 'now is the season', used metaphorically for things other than food that are currently popular or at their peak.
彼は今が旬の俳優だ。
He's a hot actor right now.
Say that an animal is legally allowed to be hunted or is abundant during a certain period.
Means 'hunting season open' or 'hunting ban lifted'. Used for game animals.
鹿の狩猟解禁は秋です。
Deer hunting season opens in autumn.
Fishing season, used for commercial or recreational fishing.
鮭の漁期は限られています。
The salmon fishing season is limited.
The English phrase 'in season' cannot be directly translated word-for-word into Japanese. Use 旬 for food, 季節の for seasonal events, or specific terms like 狩猟解禁 for hunting.
いちごが旬です。
Strawberries are in season.