1.
glossy; lustrous; sleek
Having a smooth, shiny surface or appearance. Used for hair, skin, lacquerware, and similar objects.
艶やかな髪。
Glossy hair.
艶やかな黒い漆器。
Lustrous black lacquerware.
このシャンプーを使うと髪が艶やかになる。
Using this shampoo makes your hair glossy.
2.
radiant; attractive; alluring
Having a vibrant, attractive appearance that suggests health, youth, or sensual beauty.
艶やかな笑顔。
A radiant smile.
着物姿の彼女は艶やかだった。
She looked radiant in her kimono.
舞台の上で艶やかに舞う踊り子に目を奪われた。
I was captivated by the dancer performing alluringly on the stage.
Derived from 艶 (gloss, luster) with the suffix やか forming a na-adjective. Describes a quality of smooth, healthy shine on surfaces or an attractive, vibrant appearance in people. Often used in beauty, fashion, and literary contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 艶やかな髪: glossy hair
- 艶やかな肌: lustrous skin
- 艶やかな唇: glossy lips
- 艶やかに輝く: to shine lustrously
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 艶やか: glamorous, bewitching — emphasizes alluring, sensual beauty rather than physical glossiness; read with あで not つや
- つやつや: shiny, glossy — an onomatopoeic word describing the same physical shine but in a more casual, everyday way
- 鮮やか: vivid, brilliant — describes brightness of color rather than glossy texture
Related Words
Related:
艶 (gloss, luster (noun))