Japanese word

光る

Pronunciation

Romajihikaru

Meaning

  • verbshine

Example

夜に星が光ります。yoru ni hoshi ga hika ri ma su

The stars shine at night.

Illustration for 光る (shine)

More examples

月が光っています。tsuki ga hika tte i ma su

The moon is shining.

暗い部屋では、この時計の文字盤が光ります。kura i heya de wa ko no tokei no moji ban ga hika ri ma su

In a dark room, the face of this watch shines.

Core concept

Something becomes visibly bright by emitting light, reflecting it, or flashing in small points.

Common phrases

  • 暗闇で光るkura yami de hika ru

    glow in the dark

  • きらきら光るki ra ki ra hika ru

    sparkle

  • 赤く光るaka ku hika ru

    shine red

Similar words

輝くkagayaku: To shine brightly with a clear or radiant appearance.
照るteru: To shine steadily from a source such as the sun or moon.
きらめくkirameku: To sparkle with many brief or shifting points of light.

Definition in Japanese

光を発して、または反射して、明るく輝く。hikari o has shi te ma ta wa han sha shi te aka ru ku kagaya ku

Word origin

The native Japanese verb 光る (hikaru) is historically related to 光 (hikari, "light"), and its basic sense is producing or showing light.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 光る (hikaru) can also describe a talent that stands out, extending the idea of visible brightness to noticeable ability.

Other meanings

  • glowverb
  • glitterverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 光り方hikarikataway of shiningnoun

Word lists with this word