• 桜さくら — cherry blossom
• 桜花おうか — cherry blossoms in bloom
• 桜前線さくらぜんせん — cherry blossom front (weather forecast)
• 夜桜よざくら — cherry blossoms at night
• 桜並木さくらなみき — row of cherry trees
• 桜餅さくらもち — sakura rice cake
• 観桜かんおう — flower viewing (formal)

The radical 木 (tree) reflects that the character refers to a plant or tree. The right side reflects its phonetic element. In Japan, 桜 symbolizes not just spring, but also the idea of impermanence (無常), as cherry blossoms bloom beautifully but briefly.

Many expressions, foods, and festivals feature 桜 — it's deeply rooted in Japanese seasonal culture.

公園こうえんの 桜さくらが 満開まんかいです。
The cherry blossoms in the park are in full bloom.

春はるになると 多おおくの 人ひとが 花見はなみに行いきます。
In spring, many people go cherry blossom viewing.

The kun-yomi "さくら" is widely used in daily life and cultural references. The on-yomi "オウ" appears in compound or formal expressions such as 桜花 (おうか) and 観桜 (かんおう).