Meaning
晴 means clear weather, fine skies, or the act of clearing up. A cloudless day with bright sunshine? That's 晴. It works figuratively too—clearing away doubts, worries, or a heavy mood.
The structure tells the story. On the left is 日 (ひ), meaning sun or day. On the right is 青 (あお), meaning blue—the color of a clear sky. The sun breaking through to reveal a blue sky: the components picture the meaning directly.
Taught in second grade with 12 strokes, 晴 shows up constantly in weather forecasts and daily conversation. The sense of resolution—something clouded becoming clear—runs through every use, literal or figurative.
Readings
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The On'yomi reading is セイ (SEI). It appears in compound words and leans toward formal or written contexts, especially weather vocabulary.
- 晴天 (seiten) — clear sky, fine weather. Common in weather forecasts and formal writing to describe a beautifully clear day.
- 快晴 (kaisei) — perfectly clear weather. The kanji 快 (かい) means pleasant or comfortable, so 快晴 describes an exceptionally cloudless, brilliant day.
- 晴明 (seimei) — clear and bright. Found in classical and literary contexts to describe a serene, unclouded state—sometimes a person's character as well as the sky.
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The Kun'yomi readings appear in everyday speech, connecting to native Japanese verbs for clearing up or dispersing.
は（れる）(hareru) — An intransitive verb: to clear up (weather), to be sunny, or figuratively, to be dispelled (doubts, anxieties).
晴れる (hareru) — to clear up, to be sunny (e.g., 天気が晴れる — the weather clears up).
晴れ着 (haregi) — best clothes, formal dress worn for a special occasion.
は（らす）(harasu) — A transitive verb: to clear away, to dispel, to get rid of something unwanted—worries, grudges, or suspicion.
憂さを晴らす (usa o harasu) — to clear away sorrow, to shake off the blues.
恨みを晴らす (urami o harasu) — to settle a grudge, to get revenge.
は（れ）(hare) — The noun form: fine weather, a clear day, or a formal occasion.
晴れ (hare) — fine weather (e.g., 晴れのち曇り — clear, then cloudy).
晴れ舞台 (harebutai) — one's big moment, an important occasion, one's finest hour.
Common Words & Compounds
Common words and compounds featuring 晴, grouped by theme.
Weather and Sky
- 晴天 (seiten) — clear sky, fine weather
- 快晴 (kaisei) — perfectly clear weather, glorious weather
- 晴れ間 (harema) — a break in the clouds, a patch of clear sky
- 晴れる (hareru) — to clear up, to be sunny (verb)
- 晴れ (hare) — fine weather (noun)
Feelings and Dispelling
- 気分を晴らす (kibun o harasu) — to refresh oneself, to lift one's mood
- 憂さを晴らす (usa o harasu) — to clear away sorrow, to shake off the blues
- 疑いを晴らす (utagai o harasu) — to clear up a suspicion, to prove one's innocence
- 恨みを晴らす (urami o harasu) — to settle a grudge, to get revenge
- 晴々しい (harebareshii) — bright, clear, refreshing (often describes a facial expression or mood)
Special Occasions and Views
- 晴れ着 (haregi) — best clothes, formal dress, ceremonial attire
- 晴れ舞台 (harebutai) — one's big moment, an important occasion, one's finest hour
- 見晴らし (miharashi) — view, prospect, outlook (as in 見晴らしが良い — a great view)
Example Sentences
今日はとても晴れていますね。
Kyou wa totemo harete imasu ne.
It's very sunny today, isn't it?
雨が止んで空が晴れた。
Ame ga yande sora ga hareta.
The rain stopped and the sky cleared.
彼の顔は晴々としていた。
Kare no kao wa harebare to shite ita.
His face looked bright and refreshed.
明日は快晴の予報です。
Ashita wa kaisei no yohou desu.
Tomorrow's forecast is for perfectly clear weather.
彼女は悩みを晴らすために旅行に出かけた。
Kanojo wa nayami o harasu tame ni ryokou ni dekaketa.
She went on a trip to clear her head.
裁判で彼の無実が晴れた。
Saiban de kare no mujitsu ga hareta.
His innocence was cleared in court.
人生の晴れ舞台を見事に飾った。
Jinsei no harebutai o migoto ni kazatta.
He performed brilliantly on the biggest stage of his life.
見晴らしの良い場所でピクニックをした。
Miharashi no yoi basho de pikunikku o shita.
We had a picnic at a spot with a great view.
天気予報で「晴れ時々曇り」と言っていた。
Tenkiyohou de "hare tokidoki kumori" to itteita.
The weather forecast said "sunny with occasional clouds."
そのニュースは私の心境を晴れやかにした。
Sono nyuusu wa watashi no shinkyou o hareyaka ni shita.
That news brightened my spirits.
Memory Tip
Picture the two components: 日 (sun) on the left, 青 (blue) on the right. The sun breaking through to reveal a blue sky—that image is built into the kanji itself. When you see 日 and 青 side by side, clear weather comes to mind. The structure does the work.