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On'yomi
コウ
KOU
Kun'yomi
ひか.る・ひかり
hikaru / hikari

ray · light

beautifulpeaceful

Details

Strokes6
Frequency#527
Radicallegs(2)

Description

Light - illumination, hope, enlightenment.

Stroke Order

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Strokes6

Component Breakdown

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Small top + legs

Cultural Context

Etymology

Shape of person holding fire aloft. Emitting light.

Symbolism

Light, hope, glory. '光' symbolizes divinity and guidance.

Spiritual Meaning

Represents Buddhas wisdom and salvation. Amida Buddhas radiance is spiritual guidance leading beings to Pure Land.

Anime & Manga

ヒカルの碁

ひかるのご

Hikaru no Go(2001)

manga/anime

Protagonist Hikaru's name means 'light'

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デスノート

ですのーと

Death Note(2006)

manga/anime

Contrast of 'light and darkness' between L and Light

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光が死んだ夏

ひかるがしんだなつ

The Summer Hikaru Died(2022)

manga

Horror manga about a boy named 'Hikaru'

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Games

キングダムハーツ

Kingdom Hearts(2002)

PS/Switch/PC

Action RPG themed around battle of light and darkness

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ファイナルファンタジーXVI

Final Fantasy XVI(2023)

PS5/PC

Features Eikons with light powers

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Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

電光石火

でんこうせっか

flash; instant; lightning (speed); flash

寂光浄土

じゃっこうじょうど

paradise; paradise

風光明媚

ふうこうめいび

scenic; beautiful; picturesque; scenic

光彩陸離

こうさいりくり

dazzling; brilliant; dazzling

眼光紙背

がんこうしはい

reading between the lines; reading between the lines

眼光炯々

がんこうけいけい

with shining, piercing eyes; with shining, piercing eyes

和光同塵

わこうどうじん

mingling with the world by hiding one's true talent or knowledge; living a quiet life by effacing oneself; mingling with the world by hiding one's true talent or knowledge

電光朝露

でんこうちょうろ

fleeting; evanescent; fleeting

光風霽月

こうふうせいげつ

serenity; serenity

Proverbs & Idioms

光陰矢の如し

こういんやのごとし

Time flies like an arrow

Time passes with incredible speed

光るものは必ずしも金ならず

ひかるものはかならずしもきんならず

All that glitters is not gold

Appearances can be deceiving

Poetry

和歌(百人一首) (Waka (Hyakunin Isshu))

ひさかたの 光のどけき 春の日に しづ心なく 花の散るらむ

Poem #33 from Hyakunin Isshu

紀友則Ki no Tomonori
10th century

Related Figures

光明皇后

(こうみょうこうごう)
Empress Komyo701-760

Nara-period empress whose name means 'bright light'

Empress of Emperor Shomu. Devout Buddhist who devoted herself to welfare