華やか・花やか|はなやかhanayaka[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Which spelling to use
華やか華やか is the more common form and the recommended choice for learners; use it for something with a bright, beautiful, gorgeous, showy, or brilliant quality.
花やか花やか is a rarely used kanji-and-kana variant of 華やか. Learners will seldom need to choose it instead of 華やか.
Definitions
  1. na-adjectivebright and beautiful; gorgeous; showy; brilliant; splendid; gay; colorful; flowery
    ショービジネスというのは本当ほんとうに華はなやかだ。↗
    Show business is really glamorous.
  2. na-adjectiveprosperous; flourishing; thriving
Conjugation
Plain form華やか(はなやか)
Polite (desu)華やかです(はなやかです)
Negative (dewa nai)華やかではない(はなやかではない)
polite (dewa arimasen)華やかではありません(はなやかではありません)
Past (datta)華やかだった(はなやかだった)
Past negative (dewa nakatta)華やかではなかった(はなやかではなかった)
Te form (de)華やかで(はなやかで)
Adverbial (ni)華やかに(はなやかに)
Conditional (nara)華やかなら(はなやかなら)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym華々しいはなばなしいNeutralAn adjective for brilliant, glorious things (「華々しいデビュー」), used mostly of achievements and events; 「華やか」 stresses vivid colour and a lively atmosphere.
  • Synonym華麗かれいWrittenA written adjectival noun for gorgeous splendour (「華麗な演技」「華麗な衣装」), fitting performances, dress and decoration alike.
  • Synonym華美かびWrittenA written noun for showy extravagance (「華美な服装を慎む」), often with a negative shade of excess; 「華やか」 is mostly complimentary.
  • SynonymゴージャスCasualA colloquial loanword for lavish luxury (「ゴージャスなホテル」); the emphasis is on how much money is spent.
  • Synonym輝かしいかがやかしいNeutralAn adjective for brilliant, glorious things (「輝かしい未来」), used of achievements and the future; it is not said of colour.
  • Synonym立派りっぱNeutralAn adjectival noun for fine, impressive things (「立派な家」); the point is overall excellence, not vivid colour.
  • SynonymきらびやかNeutralAn adjectival noun for dazzlingly gorgeous things (「きらびやかな衣装」); what stands out is the glitter and sparkle.
  • Related見事みごとNeutralAn adjectival noun for splendid, masterly things (「見事な腕前」); the point is admiration, not necessarily vivid colour or liveliness.
  • Related美しいうつくしいNeutralAn adjective for beautiful (「美しい景色」) with the broadest range of the group; it need not suggest vivid colour or a lively mood.
  • Related素敵すてきCasualA colloquial adjectival noun for charming, attractive things (「素敵な服」); the emphasis is on appeal rather than showiness.
  • Related壮麗そうれいWrittenA written word for grand, magnificent scale (「壮麗な宮殿」); size is the point, whereas 「華やか」 is about colour.
  • Related豪華ごうかNeutralAn adjectival noun for luxurious, lavish things (「豪華な料理」), stressing the money spent; 「華やか」 stresses colour and liveliness.
  • RelatedきれいNeutralAn extremely common adjectival noun for pretty or clean (「きれいな花」); unlike 「華やか」 it does not stress eye-catching colour.
  • Related絢爛豪華けんらんごうかWrittenA written four-character idiom for dazzling, utmost luxury, typical of buildings and stages; far more hyperbolic than 「華やか」.
  • Related麗しいうるわしいWrittenA written word for graceful, heartwarming beauty (「麗しい友情」) with an elegant literary flavour; it does not stress vividness.
  • Related美麗びれいWrittenA written word for beautiful, gorgeous looks, said of people, scenery, goods and more; in daily speech 「綺麗」 is more common.
  • Related絢爛華麗けんらんかれいWrittenA written four-character idiom for colour and luxury so intense they dazzle; said of scenes, dress, artworks; far stronger than 「華やか」.
  • Antonym地味じみNeutralThe antonym: plain and unobtrusive, opposite to 「華やか」 in both appearance and atmosphere.
  • Antonym質素しっそWrittenA written antonym: simple and frugal, opposite to 「華やか」 in the showiness of one's lifestyle or dress.

Choose 「華やか」 for vivid colour and a lively, eye-catching atmosphere. For brilliant achievements say 「華々しい」, for lavish spending 「豪華」, and for gorgeous performances or dress the written 「華麗」. 「煌びやか」 adds glitter, 「絢爛豪華」 and 「絢爛華麗」 are hyperbolic written idioms, and 「ゴージャス」 is colloquial. For general beauty use 「美しい」 or 「綺麗」, for admiration 「見事」 or 「立派」. The opposite is 「地味」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 色彩しきさいが豊ゆたかで美うつくしく、人目ひとめを引ひくさま。
  2. 勢いきおいが盛さかんなさま。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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