“Bright” in Japanese is 明るい (あかるい), pronounced akarui.
Pronunciation
The word has 4 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Bright, and also cheerful for people: 明るい人.
Example sentences
- この部屋は明るいです。このへやはあかるいです。This room is bright.
- 彼女は明るい人です。かのじょはあかるいひとです。She’s a cheerful person.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 明るい. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 明るい あかるい | bright |
| Polite present | 明るいです あかるいです | is bright |
| Negative | 明るくないです あかるくないです | isn’t bright |
| Past | 明るかったです あかるかったです | was bright |
| Past negative | 明るくなかったです あかるくなかったです | wasn’t bright |
| て-form | 明るくて あかるくて | bright and… |
| Adverb (く) | 明るく あかるく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say bright in Japanese?
Bright in Japanese is 明るい (あかるい), pronounced “akarui”.
How do you write bright in Japanese?
It's written 明るい with kanji, or あかるい in hiragana. Both are read akarui.
Is 明るい on the JLPT?
Yes. 明るい (akarui) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.