Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 月光 | gekkō | [ɡe̞k̚ko̞ː] (narrow) |
| 月色 | gesshoku | [ɡe̞ɕːo̞kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 月明かり | tsukiakari | [t͡sɨ̥kʲia̠ka̠ɾʲi] (narrow) |
| 月の光 | tsuki no hikari |
The term 月明かり is the most common and natural way to refer to moonlight in daily conversation. It is often used with phrases like 月明かりの中 to describe being 'in the moonlight'. You can describe the quality of the light using expressions such as 澄んだ月明かり for 'clear moonlight' or 柔らかい月明かり for 'soft moonlight'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 月光 is composed of 月 (moon) and 光 (light).
Which one should you use?
While 月明かり is the standard choice for everyday speech, 月光 sounds more literary or scientific, often emphasizing the luminous and mystical qualities of the light.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase 月の光 is a standard way to describe the phenomenon by using the particle の to link the moon (月) to the light (光), effectively meaning 'the light of the moon'.
How do you pronounce it?
gekkō
Did you know?
- Japanese folklore includes the 'Moon Rabbit' (月の中のうさぎ), who is said to live in the moonlight and pound rice cakes with a mortar.
- While 月明かり describes the light itself, the Japanese have a specific word 月見 (tsukimi) for the act of moon-viewing, which is a traditional autumn festival.
- In Japanese aesthetics, the beauty of moonlight is often associated with 'shadows' and 'impermanence' rather than just brightness.
Examples in context
- 月の光が湖を照らしていた。The moonlight shone on the lake.This sentence shows how 月の光 can be used to describe light shining on a specific object.Tatoeba #175653 by tommy__san, translation #13945333 by justpeachy
- 月の光が湖に反射していた。The moonlight reflected on the lake.This sentence demonstrates how 月の光 can be used to describe light reflecting on a surface.Tatoeba #3468870 by arnab, translation #238785 by CK
- 二人は手を取り合って月明かりの中を歩いた。The couple walked holding hands in the moonlight.This sentence illustrates the common usage of 月明かり to describe being 'in the moonlight'.Tatoeba #123066 by small_snow, translation #280934 by CM
- 彼女の髪は 月光 のように輝いていた。Her hair was shining like moonlight.
- 海岸沿いを散歩するのは 月夜 がおすすめです。Walking along the coast on a moonlit night is recommended.
- 山の上で 月明かり を眺めるのが好きです。I like gazing at the moonlight from the mountaintop.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are looking at the night sky from a balcony.
- 健太 Kenta今夜の月光はとても綺麗ですね。Kon'ya no gekkou wa totemo kirei desu ne.The moonlight is very beautiful tonight, isn't it?
- 陽葵 Himari本当に。辺りが白く照らされています。Hontou ni. Atari ga shiroku terasarete imasu.It really is. The surroundings are lit up in white.
- 健太 Kenta月光だけで歩けそうなくらいだ。Gekkou dake de arukesou na kurai da.It's bright enough that I feel I could walk by moonlight alone.
- 陽葵 Himariふふっ、健太さんは詩人みたいですね。Fufu, Kenta-san wa shijin mitai desu ne.Hehe, Kenta, you sound like a poet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moonlight” translations and entries 月光, 月色, 月明かり, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
