Word in Japanese/nature
Light in Japanese
Light translates as 光 (hikari). Below is a full breakdown with stroke counts, alternate writings, an example sentence, and tattoo design notes.
What it means
光 (hikari, ひかり) means light.
| Kanji | Meaning | Strokes | On'yomi | Kun'yomi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 光 | light, ray, brilliance | 6 | kou | hika(ru), hikari |
Compounds and related words
Common Japanese vocabulary built around this kanji.
| Word | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 日光 | nikkou | sunlight, also the name of a famous shrine city |
| 光線 | kousen | ray of light, beam |
| 月光 | gekkou | moonlight |
Example sentence
暗闇の中に光が見えた。
Kurayami no naka ni hikari ga mieta.
I saw light in the darkness.
Tattoo design notes
光 is a single kanji and is the only natural choice for light in tattoo form. It is also a popular Japanese given name (read Hikaru or Hikari). The character is balanced and translates well to brush-script renderings. Often paired with 闇 (yami, darkness) in matching designs.
Cultural notes
光 appears in countless Japanese names and place names, including Hikaru Genji (the protagonist of The Tale of Genji). The character originally depicted a person carrying fire on their head.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say light in Japanese?
Light in Japanese is 光, romanised as hikari and written in hiragana as ひかり. 光 appears in countless Japanese names and place names, including Hikaru Genji (the protagonist of The Tale of Genji). The character originally depicted a person carrying fire on their head.
What does the kanji 光 mean?
光 means "light, ray, brilliance" (6 strokes; on'yomi: kou; kun'yomi: hika(ru), hikari). Together the word reads as hikari.
Is 光 a good kanji for a tattoo?
光 is a single kanji and is the only natural choice for light in tattoo form. It is also a popular Japanese given name (read Hikaru or Hikari). The character is balanced and translates well to brush-script renderings. Often paired with 闇 (yami, darkness) in matching designs.
How do you write light in hiragana?
In hiragana, light is written as ひかり, which represents the sound hikari. The kanji form 光 is used in everyday writing; hiragana is used when the kanji is too difficult, for emphasis, or in children's text.
Studying in Japan?
Learning Japanese because you want to live, study, or work in Japan? Here is the path most people miss until it is too late.
Studying in Japan from India
Complete 2027 guide for Indian students — MEXT, fees, COE, JLPT timeline.
Read the guide →MEXT Scholarship 2027
Full tuition + ¥143,000/month + airfare. The complete application guide.
Read the guide →Cheapest Japanese universities
Lowest-cost universities for international graduate students with full tuition table.
Read the guide →Translate another word
Use the main Word in Japanese tool to look up any of 30+ curated English words with kanji, hiragana, romaji, and tattoo design notes.
Open Word in Japanese