How to say "brilliance" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 光沢こうたくnounBrilliance as the sheen or polish of a surface — silk, lacquer, or metal. Think 'lustre': the smooth reflectiveness of a polished surface, not radiance or talent.
- 輝きかがやきnounBrilliance as radiance or sparkle — the shining of stars, jewels, or eyes, and figuratively the glow of a smile. It covers both literal brightness and figurative radiance.
- 光彩こうさいnounBrilliance in the sense of splendor — a dazzling, glorious shine. Use it where English 'splendor' would also fit, as for the resplendent brilliance of jewels or a ceremony.
- 精彩せいさいnounBrilliance as vividness or colorfulness — a lively, colorful brilliance more than a physical sheen. If you mean the polish of silk or metal, 光沢 is the word.
- 英才えいさいnounBrilliance of a person's mind or talent — 'genius' and 'unusual talent' are the core senses. It refers to exceptionally gifted people, never to light or shine.
Use 光沢 for the sheen or polish of a surface, 「輝き」 for shining or sparkling radiance, 光彩 for brilliant splendor, 精彩 for vivid colorfulness, and 英才 for brilliance of talent or mind.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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