The Meaning of kiyoraka [清らか] In Japanese

清らか
きよらか
Romaji: kiyoraka N3

What does 清らか mean?

Translation and Meaning

pure, clear, pristine, serene

Definition

清らか means pure and clear, free from impurities; it describes things like water, air, light, or a person’s character as virtuous, innocent, and serene.

Type

adjective (i-adjective)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Pure and untainted in a physical or moral sense.
  • Clear or transparent, easily perceived or understood.
  • Calm, pristine, and serene in atmosphere or scenery.
  • Describing a virtuous, innocent character or disposition.
  • Common in literary or poetic contexts to emphasize beauty through purity.

Etymology

清 conveys purity or clarity; らか is a classical adjectival suffix that forms descriptive adjectives; the modern reading kiyoraka reflects phonetic evolution of the compound.

Composition

  • 清: clear, pure; root semantic of purification and clearness
  • らか: a classical adjectival suffix that turns a stem into an i-adjective
  • Together they form an i-adjective describing something as pure, clear, and morally untainted

Usage

Used to describe physical purity of substances like water or air, and also metaphorical purity of character or atmosphere; commonly appears before nouns as 清らかな + noun, and in literary or polite speech; less common in everyday casual conversation.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a crystal-clear spring with a calm aura; say kiy−o−ra−ka slowly to keep the rhythm of the word and its sense of purity.

Variations

  • 純粋 (じゅんすい, junsui) — pure, sincere
  • 透明 (とうめい, toumei) — transparent, clear
  • 澄んだ (すんだ, sunda) — clear, pristine
  • 汚れた/穢れた (よごれた/けがれた, yogoreta/kegarata) — dirty, sullied (antonym)

Example Phrases

  • 川 の 水 は 清らか で 子どもたち は 笑顔 になった。
    Kawa no mizu wa kiyoraka de kodomotachi wa egao ni natta.
    The river water was pure, and the children smiled.
    Lista:
    • 川 (kawa) – river
    • の (no) – possessive/particle
    • 水 (mizu) – water
    • は (wa) – topic
    • 清らか (kiyoraka) – pure
    • で (de) – connective form
    • 子どもたち (kodomotachi) – children
    • は (wa) – topic
    • 笑顔 (egao) – smile
    • に (ni) – to
    • なった (natta) – became
    Here, 「清らか」 is used as a na-adjective; linked with で to connect two clauses.
清らか