Japanese word

紫外線

Pronunciation

Romajishigaisen

Meaning

  • nounultraviolet rays

Example

夏は紫外線を避けます。natsu wa shi gai sen o sa ke ma su

I avoid ultraviolet rays in summer.

Illustration for 紫外線 (ultraviolet rays)

More examples

日焼け止めを塗っても、紫外線を完全には防げません。hi ya ke to me o nu tte mo shi gai sen o kan zen ni wa fuse ge ma se n

Even with sunscreen, you cannot completely block ultraviolet rays.

Core concept

Refers to invisible radiation just beyond the violet end of the visible spectrum.

Common phrases

  • 紫外線を浴びるshi gai sen o a bi ru

    be exposed to ultraviolet rays

  • 紫外線を防ぐshi gai sen o fuse gu

    block ultraviolet rays

  • 紫外線から肌を守るshi gai sen ka ra hada o mamo ru

    protect skin from ultraviolet rays

Similar words

紫外光shigaikō: Ultraviolet radiation viewed as a form of light beyond the visible range.

Definition in Japanese

太陽光などに含まれ、紫色の光より波長が短い目に見えない電磁波。tai yō kō na do ni fuku ma re murasaki iro no hikari yo ri ha chō ga mijika i me ni mi e na i den ji ha

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 紫外線 (shigaisen, "ultraviolet rays") combines 紫 (shi, "purple"), 外 (gai, "outside or beyond"), and 線 (sen, "line or ray"), describing rays beyond violet.

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, ultraviolet rays is often shortened to UV rays, with UV pronounced as "you-vee".

Word lists with this word