How to Say "Nova" in Japanese

新星

shinsei[ɕĩɰ̃se̞ː]

In Japanese, the English phrase 'nova' is translated as 新星 (shinsei).

The term refers to the sudden brightening of a star.

Meaning: sudden brightening of a star (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of the kanji 新 (new) and 星 (star), which literally translates to 'new star'.

While 新星 (shinsei) refers specifically to a nova, the term 超新星 (chōshinsei) is used to describe a supernova.

shinsei

The character 新 (new) is used in the word for 'newspaper' (新聞 – shinbun), combining 'new' with 'hearing'.
While 新星 means 'new star', the word for 'shooting star' is 流れ星 (nagareboshi), which literally translates to 'flowing star'.
In Japanese pop culture, the word 新星 is frequently used to name new idols or rising stars in the entertainment industry, regardless of any connection to astronomy.

あの桜はノヴァのような色です
That cherry blossom has a color like a nova.
その新星はとても明るい。
Sono shinsei wa totemo akarui.
That nova is very bright.
新星の観測に成功した。
Shinsei no kansoku ni seikou shita.
We succeeded in observing a nova.
夜空に新星が現れた。
Yozora ni shinsei ga arawareta.
A nova appeared in the night sky.

Two students are looking at the night sky together.

大翔 Hiroto

陽葵、あそこに光る星があるよ。
Himari, asoko ni hikaru hoshi ga aru yo.
Himari, there is a shining star over there.
陽葵 Himari

本当だ。あれは新星かな？
Hontō da. Are wa shinsei kana?
You're right. I wonder if that is a nova?
大翔 Hiroto

きっとそうだと思うよ。
Kitto sō da to omou yo.
I think that's probably it.
陽葵 Himari

大翔、詳しく調べてみよう。
Hiroto, kuwashiku shirabete miyō.
Hiroto, let's look into it in more detail.

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏