Translation guide
How to express 'brightness' in Japanese, covering light intensity, vividness of color, intelligence, and mood.
The amount of light emitted or reflected; how bright a light source or surface is.
The most common and general word for brightness of light, a room, a screen, etc.
Please adjust the brightness of the screen.
The brightness of this room is just right.
Technical term for luminance or brightness, used in physics, displays, and photography.
This monitor has high brightness.
Luminous intensity, a scientific measure of brightness from a source. Rare in daily conversation.
Measure the luminous intensity of the light source.
How bright or vivid a color is; saturation or intensity.
Refers to vividness or brilliance of colors. Commonly used for clothes, paintings, nature.
I like the brightness (vividness) of this paint.
I was amazed by the brightness of the flowers.
Can also be used for color brightness, but less specific than 鮮やかさ. Often implies lightness rather than saturation.
Referring to a person's smartness or quick-wittedness.
Intelligence, wisdom, cleverness. Often used for people or animals.
I'm impressed by his brightness (intelligence).
Literally 'goodness of head', a common way to say intelligence or brightness.
She is known for her brightness (intelligence).
Smartness, often used for children. Somewhat formal or literary.
I was surprised by the child's brightness.
A positive, cheerful mood or atmosphere; optimism.
Also used metaphorically for a cheerful personality or bright atmosphere.
I am saved by her brightness (cheerfulness).
The workplace lacks brightness (cheerfulness).
Cheerfulness, liveliness, often describing a person's disposition or atmosphere.
His brightness (cheerfulness) lights up the surroundings.
明るさ is the everyday word for brightness. 輝度 is technical for luminance (cd/m²). 光度 is luminous intensity (candela). Use 明るさ unless you are in a scientific or technical context.
Do not use 明るさ to mean intelligence. It sounds unnatural. Use 賢さ or 頭の良さ instead.
Change the brightness of the color.