黄こ金がね

こ

が

ね

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

1

Refers to the precious metal gold. Often used in literary or poetic contexts, but also in everyday language.

山やまから黄こ金がねが採とれた。
Gold was mined from the mountain.

2

Specifically a coin made of gold. Can be used historically or in fantasy settings.

古ふるい財さい布ふから黄こ金がねが一いち枚まい出でてきた。
One gold coin came out of the old wallet.

3

Describes the color gold. Often used in compound words or descriptive phrases.

夕ゆう日ひが空そらを黄こ金がね色いろに染そめた。
The sunset dyed the sky a golden color.

See all 13 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

黄こ金がねの〈物もの〉a golden ~ (something made of or resembling gold)
王おう様さまは黄こ金がねの像ぞうを宮きゅう殿でんに飾かざった。
The king displayed a golden statue in his palace.
〈物もの〉が黄こ金がね色いろに光ひかるsomething shines a golden color
夕ゆう焼やけで海うみが黄こ金がね色いろに光ひかった。
The sea shone golden in the sunset.
黄こ金がねを手てに入いれるto obtain gold (coins or treasure)
冒ぼう険けん者しゃたちは古ふるい城しろで黄こ金がねを手てに入いれた。
The adventurers obtained gold in the old castle.

Expressions

黄こ金がねの文も字じgold letters; letters written in gold paint

Kanji

黄yellow
金gold

Related words

金きんN2sense 1
金 is the everyday, technical term for the metal gold, while 黄金 often carries a literary or poetic tone.
金きん色いろN1sense 3
金色 is the plain, common word for the color gold, while 黄金 as a color term feels more decorative or literary.
ゴールド sense 1
ゴールド is a modern loanword used casually for the metal or color gold, while 黄金 sounds more classical or formal.

Don't confuse with

黄おう金ごんN1sense 1
The same kanji 黄金 is read おうごん in most modern, standard contexts, whereas こがね is the older, poetic reading.

Word family· 12

コガネムシ
scarab beetle; scarabaeid beetle · Mimela splendens; metallic-green scarab beetle
ヒメコガネ
soybean beetle; Anomala rufocuprea
まめこがね
Japanese beetle; Popillia japonica
黄こ金がね色いろ
golden; gold-colored
黄こ金がね花ばな
Baikal skullcap; Chinese skullcap

Show 6 more

黄こ金がね餅もち
millet mochi; millet dough cake
ダイコクコガネ
horned dung beetle; Copris ochus
黄こ金がね千せん貫がん
Kogane Sengan sweet potato
コガネグモ
Argiope amoena; orb-weaving spider
コガネオオトカゲ
quince monitor; yellow-head monitor
コガネチョウチョウウオ
pebbled butterflyfish; multiband butterflyfish

See all 12 in Explore →

Written forms

黄金Usage7%
- こがね
  Standard kanji spelling for the common reading こがね.
- きがね
  out-dated reading
- くがね
  out-dated reading
こがねUsage53%
Kana spelling; used when avoiding kanji or for clarity.
コガネUsage40%
金こがね
Alternate kanji spelling; less common than 黄金 for this reading.
きがね
out-dated reading
くがね
out-dated reading

Etymology

The reading こがね is a native Japanese word for gold, predating the introduction of Chinese characters. The kanji 黄金 literally mean 'yellow metal'.