朧
haziness, dreaminess, gloom
Readings
On'yomi
- ロウ
Kun'yomi
- おぼろ
Meaning
朧 centers on a soft, unclear state where outlines blur: haziness, dreaminess, or a dim, gloomy atmosphere.
Most common words using 朧
- 朧おぼろ
hazy; dim; faint; vague
- 朦朧もうろうN1
dim; hazy; vague; indistinct; faint; fuzzy; cloudy; obscure
- 朧月おぼろづき
hazy moon (esp. on a spring night)
- 意識朦朧いしきもうろう
being in a hazy state; being only half conscious; feeling dopey
- 朧夜おぼろよ
misty, moonlit night
- 朧月夜おぼろづきよ
misty, moonlit night; (spring) night with a hazy moon
- 朧気おぼろげ
vague; faint; dim; indistinct; hazy; blurry
- 酔眼朦朧すいがんもうろう
(with) one's eyes blurred from drinking; with drunken eyes; dazed by wine
Study
Etymology
朧 combines 月 (moon) with 龍, which likely contributes the sound. The moon association suggests a dim, hazy light, fitting the meaning of haziness or dreaminess.
Meaning mnemonic
A moon 月 beside a dragon 龍: imagine a dragon's breath misting the moonlight, making everything hazy and dreamlike.
Reading mnemonic
For ロウ, picture a low mist rolling in with the dragon's breath: low -> ロウ, and the moon becomes hazy.