光る

• Reading: ひかる
• Romaji: hikaru
• Kanji breakdown: 光 (kou/hika) — light, shine, brilliance
• Pronunciation: /çi.ka.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To shine; to glitter; to sparkle. Describes objects emitting or reflecting light.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the る row. Used for natural phenomena like stars shining, surfaces gleaming, and eyes sparkling. Also used figuratively to describe someone whose talent stands out.

Examples

1. 夜空に星が光っている。 The stars are shining in the night sky.
2. 雨の後、道路が光って見えた。 The road looked shiny after the rain.
3. あの子の目はいつも光っている。 That kid's eyes are always sparkling.

Usage Guide

Context: nature, description, figurative speech

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From the kanji 光 meaning 'light' or 'brilliance.' Related to the noun 光 (hikari, light). One of the oldest Japanese verbs describing natural luminance.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal