noun
Refers to a thin, light mist or haze, often implying a soft, blurry atmospheric effect. Compared to 霧 (きり, fog), もや is thinner and less dense.
See also: 霧
朝、川の上にもやがかかっていた。
In the morning, a mist hung over the river.
遠くの山がもやでぼんやり見える。
The distant mountains look hazy through the mist.
霧 (きり) is a thicker fog that reduces visibility more than もや. もや is a lighter, thinner mist or haze.
The origin is uncertain; it may be related to the mimetic word もやもや (hazy, fuzzy). The kanji 靄 is a phono-semantic compound with 雨 (rain) and 謁 (meet), but the reading もや is a native Japanese word.