Japanese Word for
星hoshi
star · celestial body
Readings
Meaning
Star, celestial body. 星 (hoshi) is the everyday word for star. 恒星 (kōsei) specifically means a fixed star like the sun. In slang, 星 can also mean a target, a goal, or a criminal record.
Example words
星座
seiza
constellation, zodiac sign
流れ星
nagareboshi
shooting star, meteor
星空
hoshizora
starry sky
明け星
akeboshi
morning star (Venus)
星占い
hoshi uranai
astrology, horoscope
北極星
hokkyokusei
North Star, Polaris
Tanabata (七夕, July 7th) is Japan's star festival — celebrating the one night a year when the stars Vega (織女星, Shokujo-sei, the Weaver Girl) and Altair (牽牛星, Kengyū-sei, the Cowherd Boy) are allowed to cross the Milky Way and meet. People write wishes on strips of paper and hang them on bamboo branches.
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