How do you say "sun" in Japanese?

太陽

taiyō

Noun Kanji

In Japanese, "sun" is 太陽 (taiyō).

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Pronunciation

太陽 is written using kanji. Romanised as taiyō, it sounds roughly like "tah-ee-yoh" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Taiyō combines big (太) and day-sun (陽). Taiyō is the formal term for the sun, distinct from hi (day or sun, using a different kanji).

Example sentence

子供たちは太陽の周りで遊んでいます。

Kodomotachi wa Taiyō no mawari de asonde imasu.

The children are playing around the sun.

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How to remember 太陽

Tai (big) yo (sun, yang). The sun is the biggest and brightest source of light. Taiyō appears in solar power (taiyōkō) and astronomy terms.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese nouns.

Questions about 太陽

How do you pronounce 太陽?

太陽 is romanised as taiyō. Say it roughly like "tah-ee-yoh" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 太陽 formal or casual?

太陽 is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 太陽 written in Japanese?

太陽 is written using kanji. Taiyō combines big (太) and day-sun (陽).

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Sun" in other languages

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