Translation guide
The star at the center of our solar system. In Japanese, the word 太陽 (taiyō) is the standard term, while 日 (hi) appears in compounds and poetic contexts. The sun is also a common topic in weather expressions and cultural references.
Referring to the sun as a celestial body, in scientific or everyday contexts.
The standard word for 'sun' in almost all contexts. Used in science, daily conversation, and writing.
The sun rises in the east.
Often used in compounds or literary contexts. Alone, it can mean 'sun' but is less common than 太陽 in modern prose.
The sun sets.
Referring to the light and warmth from the sun, often in weather or atmospheric descriptions.
Sunlight or sunshine, often implying rays or warmth. Common in weather talk.
Referring to the period of daylight, or the sun as a marker of time.
Daytime, during the day. Used in weather forecasts and schedules.
Referring to the sun in cultural or symbolic contexts, such as the Japanese flag or national identity.
Used in compounds like 日本 (Nihon/Nippon, Japan) and 日の丸 (Hinomaru, the Japanese flag).
Referring to the sun in a mythological, poetic, or personified sense.
While 日 can mean 'sun', it is more often used in compounds or to mean 'day'. Using 太陽 is safer for the celestial body.
Common phrases: 日が照る (hi ga teru, the sun shines), 日が陰る (hi ga kageru, the sun goes behind clouds), 日が暮れる (hi ga kureru, the sun sets/darkness falls).
The sunlight is dazzling.
The sun is strong today.
Bask in the sun.
Sunlight, often used in more formal or scientific contexts (e.g., 'sunlight exposure').
Disinfect by sunlight.
To be in the sun; to get sunlight. Very common in daily conversation.
This room gets a lot of sun.
It will be warm during the day.
Noon, midday, or daytime in general. Often used in compounds like 昼間 (hiruma, daytime).
The day when day and night are equal in length.
Japan is also called 'the land of the rising sun'.
A warm, personified, or child-friendly term for the sun. Often used in stories or when speaking to children.
The sun has come out!
Archaic or dialectal term for the sun, sometimes used in folk tales or rural speech.
The sun (god) is watching.
Don't look directly at the sun.