Hibiscus: the Story behind Malaysia’s Floral Emblem | Translation Agency Blog

Hello again, this is Naho. Despite being absolutely snowed under with work, I'm already craving a summer vacation. I can't help but think how lovely it would be to spend a few days relaxing in one of the tropical islands. Yet there still is work to be done... and I'm sure I'm not the only one in this position.

If you happen to find yourself in a similar situation, however, why not try adding a touch of tropical charm to your house by getting some beautiful hibiscus? In fact, the hibiscus is Malaysia's floral symbol, and today I would like to write about the story behind this lovely flower.

With its colorful, gorgeous appearance, the hibiscus is truly a charming flower. If you look close enough, you can see that the flower is formed by five individual petals. Did you know that each petal of a hibiscus represents a national value in Malaysia?

The first one is the belief in a deity. Although Islam is the most professed religion in Malaysia, the country itself is multi-confessional, and the first petal of the hibiscus urges its people to respect and be faithful to the deities they each believe in.

The second petal signifies loyalty to the head of state and the country, the third one highlights respect for the constitution, and the forth petal underlines the rule of law. From such deep meanings, one can truly see Malaysia's fundamental value: "a great nation is built by all people together."

And finally, the fifth petal symbolizes great virtue and behaviors that are based on moral principles. It is believed that the red color of a hibiscus represents the very spirit of courage and bravery.

Home to the tropical flower of hibiscus, Malaysia could essentially be called a country of perpetual summer where it's always hot and humid. However, the country is also blessed with an abundance of nature, including both tropical rainforests and sandy shores. In Malaysia, blossoms of hibiscus can be observed throughout the year.

The warm weather might be part of the reason why many Malaysians are said to have a relaxed, laid-back lifestyle. Time is not seen as an extremely important commodity, with punctuality more or less vaguely defined. Unlike most Japanese people who are punctual to the minute, Malaysians are more lax about being "on time". That being said, they are often more tolerant of other people and are generally very good-natured, making the country a welcoming destination for visitors from around the globe.

One of the main languages spoken in Malaysia is Malay, which is actually deemed to be an easy language for Japanese learners. Many even say that stuttering words using Japanese pronunciation alone would be enough to get by.

For example, "good morning" in Malay is "Selamat pagi," and "thank you" is "Terima kasih," both easily pronounceable in Japanese syllables. If you are familiar with the Japanese alphabet, why not also give Malay a try?

Malaysia is a multi-cultural nation where different ethnic communities (Malay, Chinese, Indian, etc.) co-exist, and is considered fairly foreigner-friendly. English is also spoken as one of the official languages there, so no need to worry about the language barrier if you plan to visit the country some day!

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