Entry
ウラウラ
uraura
Describes the gentle, clear shining of the sun, strongly evoking a warm and peaceful spring day.
Meaning
Quick Meaning
Uraura is used to describe weather where the sun shines gently and clearly, typically associated with spring. It conveys a visual sense of soft, bright sunlight combined with a feeling of peacefulness, mildness, and calm relaxation.
- Gentle and clear sunshine
- Peaceful, warm spring atmosphere
Sense Map
Gentle Sunshine
The sun shining clearly but softly, without intense heat.
太陽がうらうらと照る
Peaceful Weather
A relaxing, mild, and bright spring-like day.
うらうらした春の日
Usage Note
How to Use
うらうらと + verb
Acts as an adverb describing how the sun shines or how the weather behaves (e.g., with '照る' - to shine).
うらうらした + noun
Used to modify nouns, usually time or weather-related nouns like 'day' (日) or 'weather' (陽気).
うらうらとした + noun
A slightly more formal variant of 'うらうらした', often found in written text.
How to Use
Common Phrases
うらうらと照る
to shine gently
うらうらした日
a gentle, bright day
春の日がうらうらと
the spring day gently (shining)
うらうらと暖かい
gently bright and warm
Nuance
Context Nuance
| Common Contexts | Nuance | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Weather | positive | The most common and natural use case. It carries a highly positive nuance of welcoming the end of winter and enjoying mild days. |
| Calm Mood | positive | Evokes a slow-paced, relaxing atmosphere where nothing urgent is happening. |
Similar Words
Comparison Table
| Similar Words | When to Use | Not the Same as | Mini Example |
|---|---|---|---|
からっと からっと / similar | When describing pleasantly dry, clear weather without humidity. | Uraura focuses on the gentle sunshine and mildness of spring, whereas karatto focuses on the lack of humidity and crispness of the air. | からっと晴れる |
ぽかぽか ぽかぽか / similar | When describing comfortable physical warmth from the sun or a heater. | Pokapoka is primarily about the physical feeling of pleasant warmth, while uraura focuses on the visual softness of the sunlight and the overall peaceful mood. | ぽかぽか暖かい |
Usage Note
Common Mistakes
Using it to describe intense summer heat.
It implies gentle, mild sun, almost exclusively for spring. For harsh summer sun, use ギラギラ (giragira) or じりじり (jirijiri).
Using it to describe bright indoor lighting.
It is only used for natural weather and sunlight. For indoor lights, use ピカピカ (pikapika).
Examples
Examples
春の太陽がうらうらと照っている。
はるのたいようが[うらうら]とてっている。
The spring sun is shining gently.
VisualShows the visual state of gentle, non-glaring sunlight.
うらうらした陽気に誘われて散歩に出た。
[うらうら]したようきにさそわれてさんぽにでた。
Drawn by the gentle and bright weather, I went for a walk.
LiteralDescribes the overall atmosphere of pleasant weather suitable for a relaxing activity.
今日は風もなく、うらうらと暖かい。
きょうはかぜもなく、[うらうら]とあたたかい。
Today there is no wind, and it's gently bright and warm.
LiteralFocuses on the combination of gentle sunlight and a feeling of warmth.
うらうらとした春の海をいつまでも眺めていた。
[うらうら]としたはるのうみをいつまでもながめていた。
I endlessly gazed at the gently shining spring sea.
VisualOften paired with natural scenery (like the sea) reflecting soft sunlight.
猫がうらうらと日が当たる縁側で寝ている。
ねこが[うらうら]とひがあたるえんがわでねている。
The cat is sleeping on the porch where the sun shines gently.
LiteralIndicates a spot receiving soft natural light that is comfortable for resting.
Similar Words
からっと
karatto
"Karatto" is an adverb describing weather or air that is refreshingly dry, food that is pleasantly cooked, or an attitude that is frank and clear. Both describe clear weather, but karatto focuses on low humidity rather than gentle sunshine.
ぽかぽか
pokapoka
ぽかぽか (pokapoka) describes a comfortable, pleasant warmth like spring sunshine, or the action of hitting someone repeatedly. Describes the physical sensation of warmth, while uraura is more about the visual light and peaceful mood.
Questions
Can I use uraura for a beautiful sunny day in winter?
It is strongly associated with spring. For a sunny winter day, plain Japanese like '穏やかな冬の日' (a calm winter day) is more natural.
What is the difference between uraura and pokapoka?
Pokapoka focuses on the physical sensation of pleasant warmth. Uraura focuses on the visual quality of the soft sunlight and the overall peaceful mood of the weather.
Is uraura commonly used in daily conversation?
It is more literary and poetic compared to everyday words like 暖かい (atatakai - warm). You will often see it in books, essays, or formal writing.
Source Details
- Entry ID
- 2104750
- Source
- JMdict_english
- Revision
- -
- Review notes
- No special notes
- Active language
- English
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