How to say "sunlight" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 日差しひざしnounThe word for the sun's rays as they fall on you, with attention to how strong, warm or harsh they are; the natural choice for describing the sunshine on a given day.
- 日光にっこうnounThe neutral word for sunlight as light from the sun, as opposed to other light sources; the word to use when the emphasis is on the light itself rather than how it feels.
- 日照にっしょうnounChiefly a meteorological term for sunshine as measured in weather statistics, as in reports on how many hours of sunshine a place receives; seldom the word you want for sunlight in everyday conversation.
- 日の目ひのめexpression, nounLiterally the sunlight reaching a person or thing; well known from the figurative expression 日の目を見る, to finally step into the limelight after long being overlooked.
- 天日てんぴnounThe open sun with its heat, as when things are dried outdoors in direct sunshine; the emphasis is on the sun's drying heat rather than on sunshine itself.
Choose 「日差し」 for the strength and feel of the sun's rays, 日光 for sunlight as light from the sun, 日照 for meteorological sunshine, 「日の目」 for light reaching something, often figuratively, and 天日 for the open sun's drying heat.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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