How to say "light" in Japanese

• 光ひかりJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounThe noun for light itself — what shines or streams from the sun, a flame, or a lamp. Choose it when you mean light as something seen or emitted, not a weight or a fixture.
  光ひかりが世よにやって来きた。↗

  Light has come into the world.
• 軽いかるいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe word for 'light' meaning not heavy — a light bag, a light load. It also covers the feeling of something moving easily or offering little resistance, as when an action feels light.
  えりのスーツケースは重おもたそうだが、実際じっさいはとても軽かるい。↗

  Although Eri's suitcase looks heavy, it's actually very light.
• 明るいあかるいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe adjective for bright, well-lit places — a bright room, a well-lit street. Use it for the state of being light or bright, the opposite of dark, rather than for light itself.
  ダイヤは明あかるく光ひかった。↗

  The diamond shone brightly.
• ライトCommon
  nounThe loanword for a light as a device or fitting — a bicycle light, a car's lights — rather than for light itself or for brightness.
  突然とつぜんライトが消きえた。↗

  All of a sudden, the lights went out.
• 明かりあかりJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounA light or illumination in a practical sense — the light from a lamp, the light left on in a room, a glow or gleam in the darkness — rather than light as a physical phenomenon.
  この明あかりで字じを読よもうとすれば目めが悪わるくなるよ。↗

  You'll strain your eyes trying to read in this light.

Use 光 for light itself as something that shines, 「明かり」 for a light or illumination from a source, 「明るい」 for bright, well-lit places, 「軽い」 for light in weight, and 「ライト」 for lights as equipment.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 光ひかりlight
• 軽いかるいlight (i.e. not heavy)
• 明るいあかるいlight
• ライトlight
• 明かりあかりlight
• ランプlamp
• 軽けいlight (e.g. aircraft, truck)
• 淡いあわいlight
• 灯すともすto light (a candle, lamp, etc.)
• 軽快けいかいlight (of movements)
• 軽やかかろやかlight
• 灯火とうかlight
• 焚くたくto burn
• 光線こうせんray (of light)
• 薄手うすでthin (paper, cloth, porcelain, etc.)
• たやすいeasy
• 身軽みがるagile
• 軽度けいどslight
• 薄口うすくちlight (flavor)
• 淡白たんぱくlight (flavor, color, etc.)
• 灯ひlight
• 灯とうlight
• 灯ともしlight
• 灯火ともしびlight
• 焚きつけるたきつけるto light (a fire)
• 燭しょくlight
• 薄うすlight (e.g color, fabric)
• 灯あかしlight (esp. as a religious offering)
• 軽質けいしつlight (esp. in chemistry)
• 軽易けいいeasy
• 点ずるてんずるto drop
• 身軽いみがるいnimble
• 点じるてんじるto drop
• うすらslight
• 光札ひかりふだ20-point card
• 熾すおこすto build (a fire)
• 火がつくひがつくto catch fire
• 飄逸ひょういつeasygoing
• 簡単かんたんbrief
• 柔らかいやわらかいlight (topic, book, etc.)
• 薄いうすいpale
• 明らかあきらかbright
• 浅いあさいslight (wound)
• 柔らかやわらかinformal
• 淡々たんたんplain
• さっぱりfrank
• 浮いたういたlight
• さくいbrittle
• 電気でんき(electric) light
• 差すさすto light (a fire)
• 影かげlight (stars, moon)
• 光り物ひかりもの20-point card