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Kotomora

昭

shining, bright

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 3FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes9

Readings

On'yomi

  • ショウ

Kun'yomi

—

Nanori

  • あき
  • あきら
  • かず
  • かずみ
  • てる

Meaning

昭 centers on light that is clear and visible: something shining or bright. It is often used for obvious, manifest brightness rather than a soft glow.

Most common words using 昭

20 of 24
  • 昭和しょうわ
    N1

    Shōwa era (1926.12.25-1989.1.7)

  • 昭しょう

    nth year in the Shōwa era (1926.12.25-1989.1.7)

  • 昭和大学しょうわだいがく

    Showa University

  • 昭和女子大学しょうわじょしだいがく

    Shouwa Women's University

  • 昭代しょうだい

    glorious reign; enlightened era

  • 昭和の日しょうわのひ

    Shōwa Day (national holiday; April 29); Showa Day

  • 昭和アルミニウムしょうわアルミニウム

    Showa Aluminum Corporation

  • 昭和レトロしょうわレトロ

    Shōwa retro; Shōwa era-style; reminiscent of the Shōwa era; Shōwa-nostalgic

  • 昭和一桁しょうわひとけた

    (generation born in) the first nine years of the Shōwa period (1926-1934)

  • 昭和元禄しょうわげんろく

    the flourishing mid-Shōwa period (1960s and early 1970s) of peace, rapid economic growth, and life of ease

  • 昭和史しょうわし

    history of the Shōwa period (1926-1989)

  • 昭和基地しょうわきち

    Shōwa Station (Antarctica); Showa Station; Syowa Station

  • 昭和天皇しょうわてんのう

    Emperor Shōwa (1901-1989, reigned 1926-1989); Emperor Showa; Emperor Hirohito

  • 昭和恐慌しょうわきょうこう

    Shōwa Depression (Japanese part of the Great Depression)

  • 昭和時代しょうわじだい

    Shōwa period (1926-1989); Showa period

  • 昭和維新しょうわいしん

    Shōwa restoration (call for Imperial restoration by militarists in the 1930s)

  • 昭和美術館しょうわびじゅつかん

    Showa Museum of Art

  • 昭和薬科大学しょうわやっかだいがく

    Showa Pharmaceutical University

  • 昭和音楽大学しょうわおんがくだいがく

    Showa Academia Musicae

  • 昭昭しょうしょう

    clear; bright; plain; obvious

Explore all words using 昭 →

Study

Etymology

昭 combines 日 (sun) with 召, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of calling or summoning, together suggesting the sun's light being called forth or made manifest.

Meaning mnemonic

The sun 日 on the left and 召 (which looks like a call or summon) on the right: imagine the sun being summoned to shine brightly, making everything clear and bright.

Reading mnemonic

For ショウ, picture a bright show on stage: show -> ショウ, and the spotlight shines brightly on the performer.