Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 輝く | kagayaku | [ka̠ɡa̠ja̠kɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 光る | hikaru | [çika̠ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
The English verb "to shine" is translated using different Japanese words depending on whether you are describing the physical emission of light or a radiant, brilliant quality. Related nouns include 輝き and 光 for brightness from a light source, while シャイン is used as a surname.
Which one should you use?
光る is used for the physical act of emitting or reflecting light, such as a lamp or a glowing object. In contrast, 輝く is used for a brilliant, radiant or sparkling shine. It is often used metaphorically to describe eyes or a bright future. Another related term is 煌めく, which is a verb that emphasizes the glittering or sparkling nature of something when it shines.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The past tense of 輝く is 輝いた, and the past tense of 光る is 光った.
How do you pronounce it?
kagayaku
Did you know?
- The verb 輝く may have originated from an ancient mimetic word starting with the sound 'kaka-', suggesting its origins lie in imitating a visual sensation.
- The concept of 'shining' is often used in Japanese to describe a person's aura or spiritual presence, a usage that goes beyond physical light.
Examples in context
- どうして月は夜輝くのか。How does the moon shine at night?This sentence is useful for asking why the moon uses the form 輝く at night.Tatoeba #74971 by fcbond, translation #328748 by fcbond
- 君の車はちゃんと洗ってやれば太陽の光で輝くと思うよ。If you wash it, your car will shine in the sun.This sentence uses 輝く to describe how a car will shine in the sun.Tatoeba #995181 by mookeee, translation #273352 by CM
- 太陽が輝いています。The sun is shining.
- 星が煌めいている。The stars are sparkling.
- 今朝、太陽が輝いてたよ。The sun was shining brightly this morning.
- キラキラしているアクセサリーを見つけた。I found a sparkling piece of jewelry.
- 星が美しく輝く。hoshi ga utsukushiku kagayaku.The stars shine beautifully.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are looking at a diamond ring.
- 陽太 Yotaこの指輪、本当に輝くね。Kono yubiwa, hontou ni kagayaku ne.This ring really shines, doesn't it?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、とても綺麗だと思うよ。Un, totemo kirei da to omou yo.Yeah, I think it's very beautiful.
- 陽太 Yota陽葵にぴったりだと思う。Himari ni pittari da to omou.I think it's perfect for you, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう、陽太君。Arigatou, Yota-kun.Thank you, Yota.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shine” translations and entries 輝く, 光る, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 光る, 輝く, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
