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N3

Kanji 光: meanings, readings, and example words.

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Kanji 光: ray, light

Key takeaways

Kanji 光: ray, light. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N3

Meaning

raylight

On reading

コウ

Kun reading

ひか.るひかり

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 光

ray, light

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

⺌ + 兀

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

Small sparks (⺌) rise high (兀) to illuminate the surroundings with bright light. Imagine a powerful ray of light shining down from a high place. It is used in words like 'sightseeing' (kankou) or 'light ray' (kousen).

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

コウ
  • 光沢こうたく

    gloss / shine / polish

  • 光熱費こうねつひ

    utility expenses / fuel and electricity costs

  • 蛍光灯けいこうとう

    fluorescent lamp / slow responder

  • 光線こうせん

    light beam / ray of light

  • 観光かんこう

    sightseeing / tourism

  • 光景こうけい

    scene / spectacle

  • 日光にっこう

    sunlight / sunshine

Kun reading

ひか.る
  • ひかり

    light / brightness

  • 光るひかる

    to shine / to sparkle

Commonly used words

  • 光沢
    こうたく

    gloss / shine / polish

  • 光熱費
    こうねつひ

    utility expenses / fuel and electricity costs

  • 蛍光灯
    けいこうとう

    fluorescent lamp / slow responder

  • 光線
    こうせん

    light beam / ray of light

  • 観光
    かんこう

    sightseeing / tourism

  • 光景
    こうけい

    scene / spectacle

  • ひかり

    light / brightness

  • 光る
    ひかる

    to shine / to sparkle

Example sentences

Example 1

夜にいなびかりがった。

Translation

A flash of lightning lit up the night.

Example 2

いなびかりのあとに雷が鳴った。

Translation

Thunder rumbled after the flash of lightning.

Example 3

この写真は沢があります。

Translation

This photo has a glossy finish.

Example 4

車の沢がとてもきれいだ。

Translation

The car's shine is very beautiful.

Kanji 光: ray, light | Daily Nihongo