流 星(りゅうせい)

りゅうせい

noun

meteor, shooting star

1. meteor, shooting star

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

昨夜(さくや)、流星(りゅうせい)を見(み)た。

I saw a shooting star last night.

流星(りゅうせい)に願(ねが)いごとをした。

I made a wish on a shooting star.

Common expression

今夜(こんや)は流星群(りゅうせいぐん)が見(み)られるらしい。

Apparently, we can see a meteor shower tonight.

流星(りゅうせい) refers to what is commonly called a "shooting star" in English.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

流星群(りゅうせいぐん) (meteor shower)
流星(りゅうせい)を見(み)る (see a shooting star)
流星(りゅうせい)に願(ねが)う (wish upon a shooting star)

RELATED WORDS:

流(なが)れ星(ぼし): colloquial term for shooting star
隕石(いんせき): meteorite (one that reaches the ground)
彗星(すいせい): comet

CULTURAL NOTE:
In Japan, as in many cultures, there is a tradition of making wishes when seeing a shooting star. The belief is that if you can make a wish before the star disappears, it will come true.

Related Words

Synonym: 流(なが)れ星(ぼし) (colloquial)

Related: 隕石(いんせき) (meteorite)

general

Added 2026.1.17 18:36 · Revised 2026.6.28 15:23

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