Translation and Meaning of: 星 - hoshi

The word 「星」 (hoshi) in Japanese refers to "star." This word is made up of a single kanji, 「星」, which represents both the stars in the sky and anything star-like in shape or function. The word is used to describe celestial bodies visible to the naked eye at night, but it can also embrace metaphorical meanings, such as celebrity or exceptional talent.

Etymologically, 「星」 is composed of two radicals that contribute to its meaning: the radical 「日」 (nichi), which means "sun" or "day," and the radical 「生」 (sei), which means "life" or "birth." The combination of these radicals can be interpreted as "life of the day" or "light that rises in the sky," which refers to the brightness we see at night.

In Japanese culture, stars possess a rich and varied symbolism. They appear in poetry, literature, and festivals, such as Tanabata, where popular stories are celebrated involving stars that symbolize lovers separated by the sky. Furthermore, stars are often associated with the traditional practice of wishing on shooting stars, which carries a sense of hope and aspiration.

In a modern context, 「星」 can also be found in personal names and everyday expressions. For example, the word 「明星」 (myoujou), which means "morning star," is used in various brands and products in Japan. This demonstrates how the presence of stars permeates different aspects of everyday life and Japanese pop culture.

Vocabulary

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Synonyms and similar words

• 星 (Hoshi) - Star
• スター (Sutā) - Star (term used in English, usually refers to celebrities)
• 星座 (Seiza) - Constellation

星

Romaji: hoshi
Kana: ほし
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n4

Translation / Meaning: star

Meaning in English: star

Definition: A celestial body shining in the sky.

Example Sentences - (星) hoshi

See below some example sentences:

私は星座を観察するのが好きです。

Watashi wa seiza wo kansatsu suru no ga suki desu

I like to observe the constellations.

I like to observe constellations.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 星座 (seiza) - noun meaning "constellation"
• を (wo) - particle indicating the direct object of the sentence, in this case, "constellation"
• 観察する (kansatsu suru) - verb meaning "to observe"
• のが (noga) - particle indicating the function of a nominal subject, in this case, "observing constellations"
• 好き (suki) - adjective meaning "to like"
• です (desu) - linking verb indicating a polite statement

私たちは星を見上げた。

Watashitachi wa hoshi o miageru ta

We look at the stars.

• 私たちは - we
• 星 - stars
• を - direct object particle
• 見上げた - we look up

衛星は宇宙から地球を観測するために使われます。

Eisei wa uchuu kara chikyuu wo kansoku suru tame ni tsukawaremasu

Sateles are used to observe the land of space.

• 衛星 (eisei) - satellite
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 宇宙 (uchuu) - space
• から (kara) - of
• 地球 (chikyuu) - Earth
• を (wo) - direct object particle
• 観測する (kansoku suru) - observe
• ために (tame ni) - for
• 使われます (tsukawaremashita) - é usado