流(なが)れ星(ぼし)

ながれぼし

noun

shooting star, meteor

1. shooting star, meteor, falling star

A streak of light in the night sky caused by a small piece of space debris burning up as it enters Earth's atmosphere.

流(なが)れ星(ぼし)を見(み)たら願(ねが)い事(ごと)をする。

If you see a shooting star, make a wish.

昨夜(さくや)、流(なが)れ星(ぼし)が空(そら)を横切(よこぎ)るのを見(み)た。

Last night, I saw a shooting star streak across the sky.

流星群(りゅうせいぐん)の夜(よる)は流(なが)れ星(ぼし)がたくさん見(み)える。

On nights of meteor showers, you can see many shooting stars.

流(なが)れ星(ぼし) refers to shooting stars or meteors. 流(なが)れ means 'flowing' and 星(ぼし) means 'star.'

Common expressions

流(なが)れ星(ぼし)を見(み)る: to see a shooting star
流(なが)れ星(ぼし)に願(ねが)いをかける: to make a wish on a shooting star
流(なが)れ星(ぼし)が流(なが)れる: a shooting star falls

METEOR SHOWERS (流星群(りゅうせいぐん)):

ペルセウス座(ざ)流星群(りゅうせいぐん): Perseids (August)
ふたご座(ざ)流星群(りゅうせいぐん): Geminids (December)
しぶんぎ座(ざ)流星群(りゅうせいぐん): Quadrantids (January)

Scientific terms

流星(りゅうせい): meteor (scientific)
隕石(いんせき): meteorite (if it reaches ground)

Cultural note

In Japan, it's believed that if you make a wish before a shooting star disappears, it will come true

Related Words

Synonym: 流星(りゅうせい) (scientific term)

Related: 隕石(いんせき) (meteorite)

Related: 星(ほし) (star)

Related: 星空(ほしぞら) (starry sky)

Related: 流星群(りゅうせいぐん) (meteor shower)

Compare: 火球(かきゅう) (fireball)

general

Added 2026.1.14 19:37 · Revised 2026.9.2 12:02

05000/05049_nagareboshi