Japanese symbol for “sparkle”
輝く
かがやく
Romaji: kagayaku
to shine; to sparkle; to twinkle; to glitter
In Japanese, sparkle is 輝く, read かがやく (kagayaku).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v5k, vi to shine; to sparkle; to twinkle; to glitter; to glisten
- v5k, vi to light up (with happiness, hope, etc.); to beam; to gleam; to glow
Written forms: 輝く、耀く、赫く. Readings: かがやく.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “sparkle”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| スパークル | スパークル supaakuru | sparkle |
| 閃く | ひらめく hirameku | to flash (e.g. lightning); to flicker; to glitter |
| 煌めき | きらめき kirameki | glitter; glimmer; sparkle |
| 煌めく | きらめく kirameku | to glitter; to sparkle; to twinkle |
| ピカピカ光る | ピカピカひかる pikapikahikaru | to sparkle; to glitter; to twinkle |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 輝き | かがやき kagayaki | brightness; brilliance; brilliancy |
| 輝かしい | かがやかしい kagayakashii | brilliant; glorious; glittering |
| 光り輝く | ひかりかがやく hikarikagayaku | to shine; to glitter |
| 輝度 | きど kido | brightness; luminance |
| 光輝 | こうき kouki | brightness; splendour; splendor |
See also: Chinese symbol for “sparkle”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.