1The Japanese apricot/plum tree (ume) or its fruit; the tree blooms in early spring and the fruit is commonly used to make pickled plums (umeboshi) or plum wine (umeshu).
二月になると、庭の梅がぽつぽつと咲き始めた。
When February came, the plum trees in the garden slowly began to bloom.
祖母は毎年六月に梅を漬けて梅干しを作る。
Every June, my grandmother pickles ume to make umeboshi.
食後に梅酒を少しだけ飲んだ。
I had a small glass of plum wine after the meal.
このおにぎりの具は梅で、少し酸っぱい。
The filling of this rice ball is pickled plum, and it's a little sour.
2In the traditional three-tier ranking "matsu–take–ume" (pine–bamboo–plum), "ume" marks the lowest or most modest tier.
うな重のメニューは松・竹・梅に分かれていて、梅がいちばん手頃だ。
The eel rice box menu is divided into matsu, take, and ume, and ume is the most affordable.
予算が限られていたので、梅コースを選んだ。
Since our budget was limited, we chose the "ume" (basic) course.