How to say "sunshine" in Japanese

• 照りてりCommon
  nounStrong, direct sunshine with the sun beating down, and the dry fine weather that goes with it; also the luster of a surface. Typical context: a hot, cloudless day when the sun feels intense.
• サンシャインCommon
  nounThe English loanword, found mostly in names and titles; in ordinary sentences about light or weather it is not the usual choice — reach for 日光 or 陽光 instead.
• 日光にっこうJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe plain, literal word for the light of the sun — sunlight, sunbeams. Typical context: describing light falling into a room or onto the street on a clear day.
  この部屋へやはあまり日光にっこうが当あたらない。↗

  This room gets little sunshine.
• 陽光ようこうCommon
  nounSunshine as warm, bright light, with a more poetic, descriptive flavor than 日光. Typical context: lyrical writing about sunlight over a landscape or spilling through leaves.
  丘おかは陽光ようこうをいっぱいに浴あびていた。↗

  The hills are bathed in sunlight.
• 日陰ひかげJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounThis word really means shade — a spot out of the sun — so it is seldom the word you want for sunshine; it names where you stand to escape the heat.

For the sun's light itself choose 日光 (plain) or 陽光 (warmer, more poetic); 「照り」 is strong, drying sunshine; 「サンシャイン」 appears mostly in names and titles; 日陰 actually means shade, not sunshine.

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

• 照りてりsunshine
• サンシャインsunshine
• 日光にっこうsunlight
• 陽光ようこうsunshine
• 陽ひsun
• 日陰ひかげsunshine
• 日ひsun