花粉

かふん

pollen

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"花粉" (かふん) means "pollen," the powdery substance produced by plants for reproduction. It is commonly discussed in contexts related to allergies, especially hay fever (花粉症).

Common Contexts

People often talk about 花粉 in spring when pollen levels rise and cause allergic reactions. It is also used in scientific or botanical contexts to describe plant reproduction.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 花粉症 (かふんしょう): hay fever, pollen allergy
  • 花粉が多い (かふんがおおい): there is a lot of pollen, often used in weather or health advisories
  • 花粉を飛ばす (かふんをとばす): to release pollen, describing plants spreading pollen

Usage Notes

When using 花粉, speakers often imply concerns about allergies or environmental conditions. It is a neutral noun but frequently appears in health-related conversations. Learners should not confuse 花粉 with 花弁 (かべん, flower petal) or 花束 (はなたば, bouquet).

Example Sentences

はるになるとはなふんしょうではながむずむずします。

In spring, my nose gets itchy because of hay fever caused by pollen.

かふんがおおいひはがいしゅつをひかえたほうがいいです。

On days with a lot of pollen, it's better to avoid going outside.

かふんはしょくぶつのじゅふんにかかせないやくわりをはたします。

Pollen plays an essential role in the pollination of plants.