流星
ryūsei[ɾʲɨːse̞ː]
The English word "meteor" can be translated into Japanese as 流星 (ryūsei) or 流れ星.
Meaning: streak of light (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 流星 | ryūsei | [ɾʲɨːse̞ː] (narrow) |
| 流れ星 | nagareboshi | [na̠ɡa̠ɾe̞bo̞ɕi] (narrow) |
Both terms refer to a streak of light in the sky, often described as a "flowing star."
What does it mean word for word?
The term 流星 uses kanji that literally mean "flowing star". The term 流れ星 is a compound of the verb 流れ (flowing) and 星 (star).
Which one should you use?
流星 is a more technical or scientific term for a meteor, whereas 流れ星 is the colloquial, everyday way to refer to a shooting star.
How do you pronounce it?
ryūsei
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, the word 流星 can also be used as a metaphor for a person with a brief but brilliant career.
- In the compound 流れ星, the word for star 星 (hoshi) changes its pronunciation to 'boshi' due to a linguistic process called 'rendaku'.
- The kanji 流 used in 流星 is also used for words meaning 'current' or 'drift', linking the movement of space to the movement of water.
Examples in context
- 隕石が燃えて、流星となる。A burning meteoroid produces a meteor.This sentence illustrates how a burning meteoroid becomes a 流星.Tatoeba #77065 by mookeee, translation #326654 by CM
- 夜空に流星が見えました。Yozora ni ryuusei ga miemashita.A meteor was visible in the night sky.
- さっき流星が流れたよ。Sakki ryuusei ga nagareta yo.A meteor just streaked by.
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are looking at the night sky together.
- 健太 Kenta見て、流星が流れたよ！Mite, ryūsei ga nagareta yo!Look, a meteor streaked by!
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ！すごく綺麗だね。Hontō da! Sugoku kirei da ne.You're right! It's so beautiful.
- 健太 Kenta今こそお願いをするチャンスだよ。Ima koso onegai o suru chansu da yo.Now is the chance to make a wish.
- 陽葵 Himariよし、心の中で願うね。Yoshi, kokoro no naka de negau ne.Okay, I'll wish in my heart.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “meteor” translations and entries 流星, 流れ星, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 流れ星, 流星, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
