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銀河 (ぎんが) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

銀ぎん河が

ぎ

ん

が

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

noun

astronomy

Specifically refers to our own galaxy, the Milky Way. In astronomy contexts, it is the proper name.

夏なつの夜よ空ぞらには銀ぎん河ががくっきりと見みえる。
In the summer night sky, the Milky Way is clearly visible.

2

noun

astronomy

General term for any galaxy, including the Milky Way. Often used in compounds like 銀河系 (galactic system) or 銀河団 (galaxy cluster).

この銀ぎん河がは地ち球きゅうから約やく250万にひゃくごじゅう光年まんこうねん離はなれている。
This galaxy is about 2.5 million light-years away from Earth.

Written forms

銀ぎん河がUsage99%
Standard kanji spelling for both the Milky Way and general galaxy senses.
ギンガUsage1%

Kanji

銀silver
河river

Similar words

銀ぎん河が系けい
銀河系 specifically means the galactic system or the Milky Way Galaxy as a system, while 銀河 can refer to any galaxy or the Milky Way itself.
天あまの川がわ
天の川 is the traditional Japanese name for the Milky Way, often used in poetic or cultural contexts, whereas 銀河 is the modern astronomical term.

Etymology

From Chinese 銀河 (yínhé), literally 'silver river', a calque of the Milky Way's appearance. The general 'galaxy' sense developed from the specific Milky Way reference.