Japanese word

稲光

Pronunciation

Romajiinabikari

Meaning

  • nounflash of lightning

Example

夜空に稲光が走りました。yo zora ni ina bikari ga hashi ri ma shi ta

A flash of lightning streaked across the night sky.

Illustration for 稲光 (flash of lightning)

More examples

雨が降る前に、山の向こうで稲光が見えました。ame ga fu ru mae ni yama no mu kō de ina bikari ga mi e ma shi ta

Before the rain began, a flash of lightning was visible beyond the mountains.

Core concept

稲光 (inabikari) presents lightning as a brief, brilliant streak rather than as the thunder that follows it.

Common phrases

  • 稲光が走るina bikari ga hashi ru

    a flash of lightning streaks

  • 稲光に照らされるina bikari ni te ra sa re ru

    be illuminated by a flash of lightning

  • 稲光が見えるina bikari ga mi e ru

    a flash of lightning is visible

Similar words

稲妻inazuma: A sudden, brilliant streak of light caused by lightning in a storm.
雷光raikō: The bright light produced by lightning during a storm.

Definition in Japanese

雷が発生したときに空に現れる一瞬の強い光。kaminari ga has sei shi ta to ki ni sora ni arawa re ru is shun no tsuyo i hikari

Word origin

稲光 (inabikari) is a compound of 稲 (ina, "rice plant") and 光 (hikari, "light"), a name linked to the old belief that lightning helps rice grow.

Usage tips

  • 稲光 (inabikari) is useful when a description focuses on what the eye sees during a storm, while English often uses the broader word lightning for both the flash and the phenomenon.

Word lists with this word