やなぎ
柳
　
は
みどり
緑
はな
花
　
は
くれない
紅

expression

  1. natural state, being unspoilt by human touch, willows are green, flowers are crimson. Idiomatic expression. From a quote by Su Shi.
  2. spring is beautiful. Proverb.
  3. things are different by nature, all things have their characteristics. Proverb.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
やなぎ
柳
　
は
みどり
緑
はな
花
　
は
くれない
紅
 柳は緑花は紅 やなぎはみどりはなはくれない
やなぎ
柳
　
は
みどり
緑
　
、
はな
花
　
は
くれない
紅
 柳は緑、花は紅 やなぎはみどりはなはくれない

Contained Kanji Breakdown

willow
やなぎ　リュウ　や (9th, N1)
tree, wood
き　モク　こ- (1st, N5)
sign of the hare or rabbit, fourth sign of Chinese zodiac, 5-7AM
う　ボウ　モウ (Kentei Pre-1, N1)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ　えい　よう (Kentei 1)
seal radical (no. 26)
セツ　わりふ (Kentei 1)
green
みどり　リョク　ロク (3rd, N2)
thread
いと　シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ　ちいさい (Kentei 1)
little, small
ショウ　こ-　ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
copy, write down, record
snout, pig's head radical (no. 58)
ケイ
water radical variant (no. 85)
スイ
flower
はな　カ　ケ (1st, N4)
grass, grass radical (no. 140)
change, take the form of, influence
カ　ば.ける　ケ (3rd, N3)
human radical (no. 9)
spoon, spoon or katakana hi radical (no. 21)
ヒ　さじ (Kentei 1)
crimson, deep red
べに　コウ　ク (6th, N2)
thread
いと　シ (1st, N2)
short thread radical (no. 52)
ヨウ　ちいさい (Kentei 1)
little, small
ショウ　こ-　ちい.さい (1st, N5)
feathered stick, barb radical (no. 6)
ケツ　かぎ (Kentei 1)
eight, eight radical (no. 12)
ハチ　や　はっ (1st, N5)
craft, construction, katakana e radical (no. 48)
コウ　ク　もく (2nd, N4)