ひらめく
ひらめく · godan verb (-ku)
| Form | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| Dictionary | ひらめく | ひらめかない |
| Polite | ひらめきます | ひらめきません |
| Past polite | ひらめきました | ひらめきませんでした |
| Past | ひらめいた | ひらめかなかった |
| Te-form | ひらめいて | ひらめかないで |
| Desire | ひらめきたい | ひらめきたくない |
| Potential | ひらめける | ひらめけない |
| Passive | ひらめかれる | ひらめかれない |
| Causative | ひらめかせる | ひらめかせない |
| Causative passive | ひらめかせられるalso ひらめかされる | ひらめかせられないalso ひらめかされない |
| Volitional | ひらめこう | |
| Polite volitional | ひらめきましょう | |
| Imperative | ひらめけ | ひらめくな |
| Conditional | ひらめけば | ひらめかなければ |
| Tara conditional | ひらめいたら | ひらめかなかったら |
Meanings
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
Describes a sudden, brief light such as lightning, a sparkle, or a gleam. Often used for natural phenomena or shiny objects.
Lightning flashed in the distance.
The water surface is glittering in the sunlight.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
Used for flags, curtains, or other flexible things moving lightly in the wind or water. Less common than the light-flash sense.
The flag is fluttering in the wind.
godan verb (-ku), intransitive verb
flash into one's mind; come to one suddenly
Metaphorical use: an idea or inspiration strikes suddenly, like a flash of light. Very common in everyday speech.
A good idea flashed into my mind.
Suddenly, a solution came to me.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉が閃くfor something (light, a blade, etc.) to flash or glint
Lightning flashed across the night sky.
- 〈物〉が風に閃くfor a flag or cloth to flutter in the wind
The flag was fluttering in the wind.
- 〈事〉が頭に閃くfor an idea to suddenly come to mind
A good idea suddenly flashed into my mind.