Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

光沢 (こうたく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

光こう沢たく

こ

う

た

く

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

luster; gloss; sheen; brilliance

Refers to a shiny, polished surface quality of objects like metal, fabric, hair, or ceramics. Often used in positive descriptions of appearance.

この絹きぬの布ぬのは美うつくしい光こう沢たくがある。
This silk cloth has a beautiful luster.
磨みがくと

金きん

属ぞく

に

光こう

沢たく

が

出で

る

。

Polishing brings out the luster on the metal.

Kanji

光ray, light
沢swamp, marsh, brilliance

Similar words

艶つや
艶 also means gloss or luster, but often implies a moist, healthy sheen (e.g., on skin or hair), while 光沢 is more about a polished, reflective surface quality.
輝かがやき
輝き means radiance or sparkle, emphasizing emitted or reflected light, whereas 光沢 focuses on the smooth, shiny surface itself.

Etymology

Compound of 光 (light) and 沢 (marsh/gloss). The kanji 沢 here carries a meaning of 'gloss' or 'luster' rather than its usual 'marsh' sense. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination is conventionally associated with a shiny surface.