How to say "moonlight" in Japanese

• 月光げっこうCommon
  nounThe common word for moonlight itself, and the one that also covers 'moonbeam'. When you simply mean the light of the moon, this is the word to reach for first.
  月光げっこうは水面すいめんを明あかるく照てらした。↗

  The moon fell brightly on the water.
• 月明かりつきあかり
  nounMoonlight thought of as brightness: the light of a dark night that you see, walk, or work by. Choose it when what matters is the light you can see by.
  二人ふたりは手てを取り合とりあって月明つきあかりの中なかを歩あるいた。↗

  The couple walked holding hands in the moonlight.
• ムーンライト
  nounThe katakana loanword, carrying the sound and feel of the English original. It suits wording that wants that flavor — expressive or stylish description — more than neutral explanation.
• 月影げつえい
  nounIt covers the moon itself as well as its light and beams, so it suits a scene described through the moon's figure in the sky; make sure moonlight is really what you mean.
• 月色げっしょく
  nounFrames moonlight as a color: the pale glow that tints a night scene. Use it when describing how a place looks under the moon rather than the light itself.

Take 月光 as the default for moonlight itself; use 「月明かり」 for the brightness you see by, 「ムーンライト」 when the loanword's flavor fits, 月影 for the moon itself or its light, and 月色 for the hue it lends the night.

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

• 月光げっこうmoonlight
• 月明かりつきあかりmoonlight
• ムーンライトmoonlight
• 月影げつえいmoonlight
• 月色げっしょくmoonlight
• 月明げつめいmoonlight
• 月魄げっぱくmoonlight
• 金波きんぱgolden waves
• 月つきmoonlight
• 月桂げっけいmoon