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キラキラ (kirakira) Japanese meaning: glittering | Kotomora
Common word› JLPT N3 › Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Conjugation キラキラする · noun or participle which takes 'suru'
Form Positive Negative Dictionary キラキラする キラキラしない Polite キラキラします キラキラしません Past polite キラキラしました キラキラしませんでした Past キラキラした キラキラしなかった Te-form キラキラして キラキラしないで Desire キラキラしたい キラキラしたくない Potential キラキラできる キラキラできない Passive キラキラされる キラキラされない Causative キラキラさせる キラキラさせない Causative passive キラキラさせられる キラキラさせられない Volitional キラキラしよう Polite volitional キラキラしましょう Imperative キラキラしろ キラキラするな Conditional キラキラすれば キラキラしなければ Tara conditional キラキラしたら キラキラしなかったら
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Usage patterns 〈 物もの 〉 がキラキラ （ と ） 光ひか る something glitters/sparkles
The stars in the night sky were twinkling.
〈 人ひと 〉 の 目め をキラキラさせる to make someone's eyes sparkle (with excitement)
The children opened their presents with sparkling eyes.
キラキラした 〈 物もの 〉 a glittering/sparkling (thing)
She likes sparkly accessories.
Related words· 8 ピカピカ describes a smooth, shiny surface reflecting light evenly (like a polished floor), while キラキラ describes many small points of light glittering, as in stars or jewelry.
ギラギラ is a harsh, intense glare such as strong sunlight, while キラキラ is a gentle, pleasant sparkle.
きらめく is the verb form meaning 'to sparkle,' while キラキラ is the adverb/onomatopoeia describing the same visual effect, often paired with する or と.
輝く is a broader, more literary verb for shining or radiating light, while キラキラ specifically evokes a twinkling, multi-point sparkle.
Show 4 more キラキラ describes a continuous, repeated sparkle or glitter, while きらり describes a single, momentary flash of light.
きらきら describes a brighter, more continuous sparkle or glitter, while ちらちら describes smaller, intermittent flickering or wavering light.
きらきら describes sparkling, twinkling light (like stars or jewels), whereas つやつや describes a smooth, even sheen without necessarily sparkling.
きらきら is a common, casual mimetic word for sparkling or twinkling, whereas 煌々 is formal and describes a steady, powerful radiance rather than a twinkle.
Written forms キラキラ Usage 55%
Common katakana spelling for this mimetic word.
きらきら Usage 45%
Common hiragana spelling.
Etymology Onomatopoeic/mimetic word; the exact origin is uncertain, but it imitates the sound or visual impression of small, bright flashes of light.
