陽炎(かげろう)

陽炎(かげろう) is the wavering visual distortion caused by heated air rising from the ground on hot days. The kanji combine 陽(よう) (sun) and 炎(ほのお) (flame), reflecting the fiery shimmer visible above hot surfaces.

Common expressions

• 陽炎(かげろう)が立(た)つ: heat haze rises
• 陽炎(かげろう)が揺(ゆ)らめく: heat haze shimmers
• 陽炎(かげろう)のように: like a mirage (fleeting, illusory)

Seasonal reference

A traditional spring 季語(きご) (seasonal word) in haiku, though it is most commonly observed on hot summer days.

Literary use

The dreamlike, ephemeral quality of 陽炎(かげろう) makes it a common literary metaphor for things that are fleeting or illusory. The classic Heian-era diary 蜻蛉日記(かげろうにっき) uses this imagery in its title.