Japanese Symbol for
光hikari
light · radiance · glory
Readings
Meaning
Light, radiance, glory, brilliance. 光 (hikari) is both the physical phenomenon of light and a metaphor for hope, brilliance, and divine radiance. It's one of the most poetic kanji in the language.
Example words
日光
nikkō
sunlight (also the city Nikkō)
月光
gekkō
moonlight
光栄
kōei
honour, glory, privilege
光明
kōmyō
bright light, hope, divine radiance
光速
kōsoku
speed of light
蛍光
keikō
fluorescence (firefly-light)
光 (hikari) is a beloved given name in Japan — both male (光, Hikaru) and female (光, Hikari). 光源氏 (Hikaru Genji — Shining Genji) is the hero of The Tale of Genji, the world's first novel. 光明 (kōmyō — divine radiance) is a Buddhist concept of the light of enlightenment emanating from the Buddha.
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