Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 栄光 | eikō | [e̞ːko̞ː] (narrow) |
| 名声 | meisei | [me̞ːse̞ː] (narrow) |
| 誉れ | homare | [ho̞ma̠ɾe̞] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the translation for "glory" depends on whether you are describing grand, divine brilliance or a person's reputation and honor. You may also encounter related verbs like 誇る, which means to boast or be proud and 喜ぶ, which means to exult with joy or rejoice.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 栄光 is composed of the characters for "prosperity/flourishing" (栄) and "light/brilliance" (光).
Which one should you use?
The forms differ based on the scale and type of glory being described. 栄光 is used for grand, monumental or divine glory. In contrast, 名声 is used specifically for fame or reputation among people. The form 誉れ refers more to a person's honor, reputation or prestige, often carrying a traditional or poetic tone.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
eikō
Did you know?
- The character 栄 in 栄光 originally depicted a flowering plant. This suggests that 'glory' in the Japanese mind is likened to a flower in full bloom.
- The term 誉れ is closely related to 誉れる, a verb meaning to be praised. In ancient Japan, this was often linked to the physical act of praising a warrior's deeds on the battlefield.
- In certain religious contexts, 栄光 is used to translate the 'Halo' seen around the heads of saints or deities in art, treating the light itself as the glory.
Examples in context
- いつまで過去の栄光にしがみついてんだよ。How long are you going to cling to past glory?This sentence is useful for seeing how to describe clinging to past glory using 栄光.Tatoeba #2909822 by tommy_san, translation #6106122 by peterius
- 神に栄光あれ！Glory to God!This sentence is useful for expressing glory to a deity using 栄光.
- 栄光の神バントゥBontu, Goddess of GloryThis sentence is useful for a name or title involving the goddess of glory using 栄光.
- 昨夜、我々のチームは素晴らしい勝利を収め、栄光を手に入れました。Last night, our team achieved a magnificent victory and obtained glory.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Hiyori and Kenta are talking about their goals for the sports competition.
- 陽葵 Himari優勝して、栄光を掴み取りたいね。Yūshō shite, eikō o tsukamitoritai ne.I want to win the championship and seize the glory.
- 健太 Kentaそうだね。全力で頑張ろう。Sō da ne. Zenryoku de ganbarō.You're right. Let's give it our all.
- 陽葵 Himari最高の栄光を勝ち取りましょう！Saikō no eikō o kachitorimashō!Let's win the greatest glory!
- 健太 Kentaもちろんだよ、陽葵。Mochiron da yo, Hiyori.Of course, Hiyori.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “glory” translations and entries 栄光, 名声, 誉れ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
