黄金(おうごん)

おうごん
noun
gold; golden
1. gold; golden color
Gold as a precious metal, or the brilliant golden color. Often used in literary, elevated, or dramatic contexts.
黄金(おうごん)に輝(かがや)く像(ぞう)。
A statue gleaming with gold.
秋(あき)の田(た)んぼは黄金色(おうごんいろ)に染(そ)まっていた。
The autumn rice paddies were dyed golden.
古代(こだい)の人々(ひとびと)は黄金(おうごん)を神聖(しんせい)なものとして崇(あが)めた。
Ancient peoples revered gold as something sacred.
2. golden; most valuable; prime
Used figuratively to describe something supremely valuable, ideal, or at its peak.
あの時代(じだい)が黄金期(おうごんき)だった。
That era was the golden age.
朝(あさ)の時間(じかん)は黄金(おうごん)の時間(じかん)だ。
Morning hours are golden hours.
このチームの黄金(おうごん)コンビは誰(だれ)にも止(と)められなかった。
This team's golden duo couldn't be stopped by anyone.

A more literary and elevated word for gold than 金(きん). Used both literally (the metal/color) and figuratively (something supremely valuable).

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 黄金色(おうごんいろ): golden color
  • 黄金期(おうごんき): golden age
  • 黄金比(おうごんひ): golden ratio
  • 黄金(おうごん)コンビ: golden duo/pair
  • 黄金(おうごん)時代(じだい): golden era

ALTERNATE READING:
Also read as こがね in poetic or traditional contexts: 黄金(こがね) refers to gold as a material. The reading おうごん is standard in modern usage and compounds.

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 金(きん): gold (neutral, everyday)
  • ゴールド: gold (loanword, used in branding and products)
  • 黄金(おうごん) carries a grand, literary tone
general
Added 2026.3.2 18:33 · Revised 2026.4.6 13:02
14500/14645_ougon