How to say “peony” in Japanese | 牡丹 (ぼたん、botan)

The Japanese vocabulary「牡丹 (ぼたん、botan)」means “peony.” Please learn the pronunciation and the example sentences.

Japanese vocabulary and the meaning

Key Word牡丹
Hiraganaぼたん
Romaji Readingbotan
English Meaningpeony

The correct Japanese pronunciations

Please learn the pronunciation by watching the attached video. You can also learn example sentences.

Our YouTube channel: Ichiyo’s Japanese YouTube Channel

The example Japanese sentences

It is important to have skills in both non-honorific and honorific languages in order to use Japanese correctly.

I wonder if this flower is a peony.

spoken and honorific language:

このはなは、牡丹ぼたん
Kono hana wa, botan?

Polite Form:

この花は、牡丹ですかね?
Kono hana wa, botandesu ka ne?


The peony blooming season is from April to May.

Plain form:

牡丹ぼたん開花期かいかきは、四月しがつから五月ごがつだ。
Botan no kaika-ki wa, shigatsu kara gogatsu da.

Polite form:

牡丹の開花期は、四月から五月です。
Botan no kaika-ki wa, shigatsu kara gogatsu desu.


Pink peonies are blooming beautifully.

Plain form:

ピンクの牡丹ぼたん綺麗きれいいている。
Pinku no botan ga kirei ni saite iru.

Polite form:

ピンクの牡丹が綺麗に咲いています。
Pinku no botan ga kirei ni saite imasu.


Large peony flowers have bloomed in the garden.

Plain form:

にわおおきな牡丹ぼたんはないた。
Niwa ni ōkina botan no hana ga saita.

Polite form:

庭に大きな牡丹の花が咲きました。
Niwa ni ōkina botan no hana ga sakimashita.


Peony flowers are popular for ornamental purposes.

Plain form:

牡丹ぼたんはな観賞用かんしょうよう人気にんきだ。
Botan no hana wa kanshō-yō ni ninki da.

Polite form:

牡丹の花は観賞用に人気です。
Botan no hana wa kanshō-yō ni ninki desu.


I gave my mother a kimono with a peony pattern.

Plain form:

はは牡丹ぼたんがら着物きものおくった。
Haha ni botan no gara no kimono o okutta.

Polite form:

母に牡丹の柄の着物を贈りました。
Haha ni botan no gara no kimono o okurimashita.

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