彗 星(すいせい)

すいせい

noun

comet

1. comet

A celestial object consisting of ice, rock, and dust that develops a visible tail when passing close to the sun.

彗星(すいせい)が夜空(よぞら)を横切(よこぎ)るのを観測(かんそく)した。

We observed a comet crossing the night sky.

ハレー彗星(すいせい)は約(やく)76年(ねん)ごとに地球(ちきゅう)に近(ちか)づく。

Halley's Comet approaches Earth approximately every 76 years.

彗星(すいせい)の尾(お)は太陽(たいよう)と反対(はんたい)方向(ほうこう)に伸(の)びる。

A comet's tail extends in the direction away from the sun.

彗星(すいせい) refers to a comet. 彗(すい) means 'broom' (referring to the tail) and 星(せい) means 'star.'

ANATOMY OF A COMET:

核(かく): nucleus (solid core)
コマ: coma (gas cloud around nucleus)
尾(お): tail

FAMOUS COMETS:

ハレー彗星(すいせい): Halley's Comet
ヘール・ボップ彗星(すいせい): Hale-Bopp Comet

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

彗星(すいせい)を観測(かんそく)する: to observe a comet
彗星(すいせい)の尾(お): comet's tail
彗星(すいせい)の軌道(きどう): comet's orbit

FIGURATIVE USE:

彗星(すいせい)のごとく現(あらわ)れる: to appear suddenly (like a comet)
「彗星(すいせい)のように登場(とうじょう)した新人(しんじん)」: a newcomer who burst onto the scene

HISTORY:

In ancient times, comets were often seen as omens

Related Words

Homophone: 水星(すいせい) (Mercury)

Related: 隕石(いんせき) (meteorite)

Related: 惑星(わくせい) (planet)

general

Added 2026.1.14 19:37 · Revised 2026.6.4 22:12

05000/05053_suisei