English–Japanese

“be bright” in Japanese

Japanese

Pronunciation

Romajisaeru

Example

冬の夜は月が冴えます。fuyu no yoru wa tsuki ga sa e ma su

The moon is bright on winter nights.

Illustration for 冴える (be bright)

How to say “be bright” in Japanese

“Be bright” in Japanese is 冴える (saeru).

Describes a state in which light, sound, perception, or thought becomes clear and sharply defined.

Full entry for 冴える: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with 冴える

昨夜は目が冴えて、なかなか眠れませんでした。saku ya wa me ga sa e te na ka na ka nemu re ma se n de shi ta

I was wide awake last night and could not fall asleep easily.

Tips for using 冴える

  • In descriptions of music, 冴える (saeru) can suggest that a sound cuts through with unusual clarity, not simply that it is loud.

“be bright” in other languages