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Kotomora

星

star, spot, dot, mark

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • セイ
  • ショウ

Kun'yomi

  • ほし
  • -ぼし

Meaning

星 centers on a small bright point in the sky or on a surface: a star, a spot, a dot, or a mark. The meanings share the idea of a distinct, often luminous, point.

Most common words using 星

24 of 463
  • 星ほし
    N4

    star (usu. excluding the Sun); planet (usu. excluding Earth); heavenly body

  • 惑星わくせい
    N1

    planet

  • 衛星えいせい
    N2

    (natural) satellite; moon

  • 火星かせい
    N1

    Mars (planet)

  • 星座せいざ
    N1

    constellation

  • 星空ほしぞら

    starry sky

  • 彗星すいせい

    comet

  • 木星もくせい
    N1

    Jupiter (planet)

  • 小惑星しょうわくせい

    asteroid

  • 金星きんぼし

    dazzling victory

  • 金星きんせい
    N1

    Venus (planet)

  • 土星どせい
    N1

    Saturn (planet)

  • 流れ星ながれぼし

    shooting star; falling star; meteor

  • 恒星こうせい

    star

  • 明星みょうじょう

    morning star; Venus

  • 白星しろぼし

    white circle; white star

  • 星条旗せいじょうき

    Stars and Stripes (US flag)

  • 新星しんせい

    nova

  • 黒星くろぼし

    black spot; black dot; bull's-eye

  • 水星すいせい
    N1

    Mercury (planet)

  • 勝ち星かちぼし

    (mark indicating) a win

  • 天王星てんのうせい

    Uranus (planet)

  • 海王星かいおうせい

    Neptune (planet)

  • 巨星きょせい

    giant star

Explore all words using 星 →

Study

Etymology

星 combines 日 (sun) and 生 (life/birth), originally representing the idea of stars as 'living' or 'bright' celestial bodies. The modern form preserves this semantic combination.

Meaning mnemonic

The sun 日 above new life 生: imagine stars as suns being born in the night sky, each a bright spot or dot.

Reading mnemonic

For セイ, picture a star saying its own name: 'Say, I'm a star!' — 'Say' cues セイ, and the star speaks its bright identity.