Translation guide
Describes something shiny, often with a wet or smooth surface, reflecting light in a sparkling or shimmering way.
Her eyes were glistening with tears.
The wet road glistened in the moonlight.
Describe something that is shiny because it is wet, like tears, sweat, or dew.
General verb for 'to shine' or 'to glitter'. Can be used for wet surfaces, but is broader.
Her eyes are glistening with tears.
To shine brilliantly, often with a positive connotation. Can describe eyes or surfaces.
Specifically means 'to shine wetly'. More literary or descriptive.
The rain-soaked road is glistening.
Describe something that reflects many small points of light, like glitter or sparkle.
Onomatopoeic adverb meaning 'sparkling' or 'glittering'. Very common for small bright reflections.
The snow is glistening.
Verb meaning 'to glitter' or 'to sparkle'. Slightly more poetic than きらきら.
Onomatopoeia for flickering or intermittent sparkling, like distant lights or snowflakes.
Describe a surface that is shiny because it is smooth, not necessarily wet.
Onomatopoeic adverb for a healthy, glossy shine, often used for hair, skin, or polished objects.
Her hair is glistening.
Onomatopoeia for a bright, clean shine, like a polished floor or new shoes.
Phrase meaning 'to have luster'. More formal or technical.
This pottery has a beautiful glistening finish.
きらきら is for many small points of light (sparkling), while つやつや is for a smooth, glossy shine (like healthy hair). Use きらきら for glittering things and つやつや for polished or moist surfaces.
The diamond sparkles.
Lip balm makes your lips glossy.
English 'glistening' often implies wetness, but Japanese onomatopoeia like きらきら or つやつや do not inherently mean wet. If wetness is important, add context like 濡れて (nurete) or use 濡れ光る.
朝露に葉が輝いている。
The leaves are glistening with morning dew.
水面が陽の光できらめいている。
The water surface is glistening in the sunlight.
遠くの街灯がちらちらと光っている。
The distant streetlights are glistening.
磨かれた床がぴかぴかだ。
The polished floor is glistening.