輝く星
kagayaku hoshi
The English phrase "shining star" is translated into Japanese as 輝く星 (kagayaku hoshi).
In Japanese, the most common and widely used term for a star is 星. The phrase 輝く星 refers to a celestial body in the night sky that emits or reflects bright light.
Which one should you use?
While 輝く星 is a standard way to express a shining star, you might use 光り輝く星 to describe a star that is specifically shimmering or shining brightly. For a different nuance, 煌めく星 emphasizes a sparkling or glittering quality. You may also see 輝くスター, which uses a loanword for a more informal feel.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 輝く星, the verb 輝く is used in its dictionary form (non-past/present) to function as an adjective that modifies the noun 星.
How do you pronounce it?
kagayaku hoshi
Did you know?
- If you use the loanword スター instead of 星 to say 'shining star', Japanese people will assume you are talking about a celebrity or a pop idol rather than a celestial body.
- In Japanese, the word 星 can refer to a planet, so a 'shining star' could be the planet Venus. For example, the planet Mars is called 火星, which literally translates to 'fire star'.
- The Japanese word for 'shooting star' is 流れ星, which literally means 'flowing star'. This uses the same 星 found in 輝く星 but adds a sense of liquid motion.
Examples in context
- 彼女はまさに輝く星のようだ。She truly looks like a shining star.
- 彼は光り輝く星のような人物だ。He is a person shining brightly like a star.
- 彼女は輝くスターだと思う。I think she is a shining star.
- 空には輝く星がたくさんあります。Sora ni wa kagayaku hoshi ga takusan arimasu.There are many shining stars in the sky.
- あの輝く星はとても綺麗ですね。Ano kagayaku hoshi wa totemo kirei desu ne.That shining star is very beautiful, isn't it?
- 夜空に輝く星を探しましょう。Yozora ni kagayaku hoshi o sagashimashou.Let's look for a shining star in the night sky.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are looking at the night sky together.
- 美咲 Misaki見て！あそこに輝く星があるよ。Mite! Asoko ni kagayaku hoshi ga aru yo.Look! There is a shining star over there.
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。すごく明るいね。Hontou da. Sugoku akarui ne.You're right. It's really bright.
- 美咲 Misakiきっと流れ星になるよ。Kitto nagareboshi ni naru yo.I bet it'll become a shooting star.
- 健太 Kentaお願いごとをしよう。Onegaigoto o shiyou.Let's make a wish.
