陽炎かげろう

also: ようえん

か

げ

ろ

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

noun

heat haze; heat shimmer

The shimmering or wavy appearance of air above hot surfaces, such as asphalt in summer.

夏なつの道どう路ろに陽炎かげろうが立たっていた。
A heat haze was shimmering above the summer road.
陽炎かげろうで向むこうの景色けしきがゆらゆら揺ゆれて見みえる。
The distant scenery looks wavy because of the heat shimmer.

Written forms

陽炎Usage65%
- かげろう
  gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
  Standard kanji spelling; the reading かげろう is a jukujikun.
- ようえん
  rarely-used kana form
  Rare on'yomi reading; learners will almost always encounter かげろう.
かげろうUsage35%
gikun (meaning-based reading) or jukujikun
Kana spelling is common and avoids the unusual reading of the kanji.
ようえん
rarely-used kana form

Kanji

陽sunshine, yang principle, positive
炎inflammation, flame, blaze

Similar words

蜃しん気き楼ろう
蜃気楼 is a mirage (often a distant, reflected image), while 陽炎 is the shimmering effect of hot air close to the ground.

Etymology

The kanji 陽 (sun, yang) and 炎 (flame) together suggest 'sun flames,' poetically describing the shimmering air. The reading かげろう is a jukujikun, and its exact origin is uncertain.