Japanese word

冴える

Pronunciation

Romajisaeru

Meaning

  • verbbe bright

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)

More examples

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.

Core concept

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

Common phrases

  • 目が冴えるme ga sa e ru

    be wide awake

  • 頭が冴えるatama ga sa e ru

    have a clear mind

  • 冴えた声sa e ta koe

    clear voice

Similar words

輝くkagayaku: To shine brightly with a radiant appearance.
照るteru: To shine steadily from the sun, moon, or another source.
光るhikaru: To give off or reflect light in a way that makes something visible.
澄むsumu: To become clear, pure, and free from cloudiness or noise.

Definition in Japanese

光や色、音などが鮮明になり、頭の働きや感覚が鋭くなること。hikari ya iro oto na do ga sen mei ni na ri atama no hatara ki ya kan kaku ga surudo ku na ru ko to

Word origin

冴える (saeru) is a native Japanese verb related to the old verb 冴ゆ (sayu), meaning "to become clear or sharp," and it retains this idea in brightness, crispness, and keenness.

Usage tips

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

Other meanings

  • be clearverb
  • be crispverb
  • be vividverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 冴えsaebrightnessnoun
  • 冴え冴えsaezaevividlyadverb

Word lists with this word