月光|げっこうgekkou[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounmoonlight; moonbeam
   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.

• Synonym月明かりつきあかりNeutralNative Japanese word for the brightness of a moonlit night, as in 「月明かりの下」; it stresses how bright it is, while 「月光」 is the Sino-Japanese, more written term.
• Synonym月色げっしょくWrittenWritten and relatively rare; a poetic word for the moon's color and light, better suited to literary prose than everyday speech.
• SynonymムーンライトNeutralLoanword for moonlight, common in song and product names and with a romantic ring to it; 「月光」 is the Sino-Japanese, more written word.
• Synonym月影げつえいWrittenWritten and classically poetic; means moonlight but can also mean the moon's own figure, a sense 「月光」 lacks.
• Synonym月明げつめいWrittenWritten word seen mostly in poetry and prose; means the bright moon and its light, with the emphasis on the moon's brightness.
• Antonym日光にっこうNeutralSunlight — the daytime counterpart of nighttime 「月光」; the everyday, commonly used word.
• Antonym陽光ようこうWrittenWritten word for bright, clear sunshine; stands opposite 「月光」 but sounds more literary.

For moonlight, 「月光」 is the default, though it leans written and also names Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. In speech say 「月明かり」; for poetic prose try 「月影」; the loanword 「ムーンライト」 adds a romantic touch. The opposite is 「日光」.

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

1. 月つきの光ひかり。ムーンライト。
2. (げっこう) ベートーヴェンが作曲さっきょくしたソナタ「ピアノソナタ第だい14番ばん嬰えいハ短調はたんちょう作品さくひん27の2『幻想曲げんそうきょく風ふうに』 （Klaviersonate Nr. 14 op. 27 Nr. 2 cis-moll "Quasi una Fantasia"）」の通称つうしょう。月光げっこうソナタ。