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星河 (せいが) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

星せい河が

also: せいか

せ

い

が

Meanings

1

noun

rare term

Rare, poetic term for the Milky Way. The common modern word is 天の川 (あまのがわ).

See also: 天の川

「星せい河が」は天あまの川がわを指さす雅が語ごで、現げん代だいではほとんど使つかわれない。
"星河" is an elegant word for the Milky Way, and is hardly used in modern times.

Written forms

星河
- せいが
  Rare literary kanji compound for the Milky Way. The reading せいが is the primary reading given.
- せいか
  Alternate reading of the same kanji form; also rare.
せいか

Kanji

星star, spot, dot
河river

Similar words

天あまの川がわ
The standard modern word for the Milky Way. 星河 is a rare, literary synonym.
銀ぎん河が
Means 'galaxy' in general, including the Milky Way as a galaxy. 星河 specifically refers to the Milky Way as a river of stars in the night sky.

Etymology

A Sino-Japanese compound of 星 (star) and 河 (river), literally 'star river', a poetic name for the Milky Way.