(こうごう)しい

こうごうしい
adjective (i)
divine, sublime, majestic
1. divine, sublime, majestic, awe-inspiring
Having a sacred, awe-inspiring beauty or grandeur that evokes a sense of the divine.
神々(こうごう)しい雰囲気(ふんいき)
A divine atmosphere.
朝日(あさひ)()らされた(やま)神々(こうごう)しかった。
The mountain illuminated by the morning sun was majestic.
(ふる)神社(じんじゃ)(もり)(あし)()()れると、神々(こうごう)しい空気(くうき)(つつ)まれた。
When I stepped into the forest of the old shrine, I was enveloped in a sublime atmosphere.

CONJUGATION:

  • Negative: 神々(こうごう)しくない
  • Past: 神々(こうごう)しかった
  • Adverbial: 神々(こうごう)しく

ETYMOLOGY:
Derived from (かみ) (god/deity). The repetition 神々(かみがみ) means "gods" (plural), and the しい suffix creates an adjective meaning "having the quality of gods."

USAGE:
Used to describe places, scenes, or atmospheres that evoke a sacred or transcendent quality. Particularly common when describing natural scenery, temples, shrines, and moments of extraordinary beauty.

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 神々(こうごう)しい雰囲気(ふんいき): sacred atmosphere
  • 神々(こうごう)しい(ひかり): divine light
  • 神々(こうごう)しい姿(すがた): majestic figure