noun
A classical, literary term for the Milky Way. In modern Japanese, 天の川 (あまのがわ) is the standard word. 河漢 appears mainly in poetry, classical literature, or elevated prose.
古い漢詩には、夜空に横たわる河漢を詠んだものが多い。
Many old Chinese-style poems sing of the River of Heaven stretching across the night sky.
「河漢」は、現代ではほとんど使われない雅語だ。
河漢 is an elegant word that is hardly used today.