煌こう々こう

こ

う

こ

う

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 100,000

Meanings

1

taru-adjective, adverb taking the 'to' particle

brilliantly; brightly; dazzlingly

Describes a strong, radiant light shining vividly. Often used in literary or formal descriptions. Functions as a taru-adjective or adverb with と.

満まん月げつが煌

こう

々こう

と

輝かがや

い

て

い

た

。

The full moon was shining brilliantly.

街がい灯とうが煌こう々こうと道みちを照てらしている。

The streetlights are brightly illuminating the road.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉〉が煌々こうこうと輝かがやくfor something (e.g. lights) to shine brilliantly
街がい灯とうが煌こう々こうと輝かがやいている。
The streetlights are shining brilliantly.
煌々こうこうと〈動詞どうし〉〉to do something (e.g. burn, glow) in a dazzlingly bright manner
電でん灯とうが煌こう々こうと点ついている。
The lights are burning brightly.

Kanji

煌glitter, gleam, twinkle
晃clear

Related words

燦さん然ぜん
燦然 and 煌々 are both literary taru-adjectives for radiant brightness, but 燦然 often emphasizes glittering splendor (e.g. of jewels or achievements) while 煌々 focuses on the sheer intensity of light itself.
さんさん
燦々 typically describes sunlight pouring down warmly, whereas 煌々 is used for any powerful, dazzling light source, including artificial lighting at night.
輝かがやくN3
輝く is a general, everyday verb for shining or glittering, while 煌々 is a formal, literary adverb/adjective emphasizing intense, dazzling radiance.
キラキラN3
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.

Opposites

仄ほの暗ぐらい
仄暗い describes a faint, dim light, the opposite of 煌々's overwhelming brightness.

Don't confuse with

皓こう々こう
皓々 shares the same reading as 煌々 but is used specifically for the bright white light of the moon or snow, while 煌々 applies more broadly to any dazzling light, including electric lamps.

Written forms

煌こう々こうUsage74%
Most common kanji spelling for the reduplicated form.
こうこうUsage23%
晃こう々こうUsage2%
Rare variant using 晃; may be encountered in literary contexts.
煌こう煌こうUsage1%
Non-repetition kanji variant; less common than 煌々.

Etymology

Reduplication of the kanji 煌 (こう), meaning 'bright' or 'brilliant', forming an adverb/adjective emphasizing intense light. The reading こう is the on'yomi.

晃こう晃こう

Rare non-repetition variant of 晃々.