きらきら
kirakira
The English phrase 'sparkle' is translated into Japanese as きらきら (kirakira).
Meaning: to manifest as if by emitting sparks, glisten (verb)
Which one should you use?
While きらきら is a sound-symbolic word used for the effect, きらめく is the formal lexical verb meaning 'to sparkle' or 'to glitter'. Additionally, pikapika is an informal way to say sparkle.
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the onomatopoeic word きらきら into an adverb that describes how an action is performed, you can add the particle と to create きらきらと, which means 'sparklingly' or 'with a sparkle'.
How do you pronounce it?
kirakira
Did you know?
- The term きらきらネーム refers to 'sparkly names', which are unconventional and imaginative names given to children that often use kanji for their sounds rather than their meanings.
- In Japanese, the 'intensity' of a sparkle can be modified by the specific onomatopoeia chosen, such as using ぎらぎら (giragira) to describe a harsh, blinding, or aggressive glare.
- In Japanese pop culture and manga, the word きらきら is often written as a visual effect in the background of a panel to show a character is excited or a scene is magical.
Examples in context
- はるかな宇宙で星々が輝きます。In the distant universe, the stars sparkle.
- 月の光が川面に光り輝いている。The moonlight sparkles on the surface of the river.
- 彼女はキラキラと輝く首飾りをつけている。She is wearing a sparkling necklace.
- 海の水面がピカピカと輝いている。The sea's surface is sparkling and shimmering.
- 星がきらきら光っています。Hoshi ga kirakira hikatte imasu.The stars are sparkling.
- 瞳がきらきらしているね。Hitomi ga kirakira shite iru ne.Your eyes are sparkling, aren't they?
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are looking at a jewelry shop window.
- 陽太 Yota見て、あのネックレスがきらきらしてるよ。Mite, ano nekkuresu ga kirakira shiteru yo.Look, that necklace is sparkling.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だね。すごく綺麗！Hontou da ne. Sugoku kirei!You're right. It's so beautiful!
- 陽太 Yota美咲に似合いそうだと思うな。Misaki ni niaisou da to omou na.I think it would look good on you, Misaki.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとう、陽太くん。Arigatou, Youta-kun.Thank you, Yota.
