<p>「風」 in 「風景」 and 「風光」 carries the meaning of :</p>

<ol>
<li><p>'Style': as in 「和風」 (Japanese style) and 「作風」(style of behavior) </p></li>
<li><p>'air; atmosphere' - (something that creates moods and evokes feelings)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>「景」 in 「風景」 carries the meaning of  'scene/ sight' -- the picture you see in your eyes, as in 「奇景」(strange sight)，「場景」(scene in a play)</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The term 「風景」 (sight/ scenery) <strong>specifically</strong> refers to 'the sight of a landscape or a natural scenery'  as in 「看風景」(watching the natural scenery )</p>
</blockquote>

<p>「光」in 「風光」refers to 'light', which is needed to enable people to see -- in another word: 'sight'. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The term「風光」 <strong>generally</strong> refers to 'sight/ scene /scenery' </p>
</blockquote>

<p>For example:「異國<strong>風光</strong>」(sights and scenes of foreign country) ;「園林<strong>風光</strong>」(sights and scenes of garden and forest)</p>

<p>Of course it includes 'landscape or a natural setting' For example:
「西湖<strong>風光</strong>」. Therefore 「風光」and「風景」are interchangeable in this sense. (<em>You can write 「西湖<strong>風景</strong>」instead of 「西湖<strong>風光</strong>」</em>)</p>

<p>Unlike 「風景」, 「風光」can also be used metaphorically. </p>

<ul>
<li><p>「<strong>風光</strong>大葬」(scenic funeral = <strong>impressive, dignified</strong> funeral) </p></li>
<li><p>「<strong>風光</strong>了幾十年」( have been a sight to behold for decades = have been <strong>awesome</strong> for decades)</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-12T18:40:08.580Z
2017-06-23T17:44:50.853Z
2017-06-23T17:44:50.853Z
Tang Ho
<p>Our book just introduced 風景 as scenic view, landscape. Now it introduces 風光 as "scenery". The book is very basic. It typically doesn't introduce alternative vocabulary. So I am trying to spot any differences.</p>

<p>Would you perhaps use 風光 in a city and 風景 in nature? Like:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>天色很藍，雲都反映落日的紅光，落日時的北京真是一個漂亮的風光。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Or:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>西湖上有一座白色的橋，湖邊的樹很多，樹下的花紅紅綠綠，落日時的西湖真是一的漂亮的風景。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Feel free to correct. The sentences are mine and I always make mistakes.</p>

<difference>
Is there a difference between 風景 and 風光？
# Is there a difference between 風景 and 風光？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-12)

Our book just introduced 風景 as scenic view, landscape. Now it introduces 風光 as "scenery". The book is very basic. It typically doesn't introduce alternative vocabulary. So I am trying to spot any differences.

Would you perhaps use 風光 in a city and 風景 in nature? Like:

> 天色很藍，雲都反映落日的紅光，落日時的北京真是一個漂亮的風光。

Or:

> 西湖上有一座白色的橋，湖邊的樹很多，樹下的花紅紅綠綠，落日時的西湖真是一的漂亮的風景。

Feel free to correct. The sentences are mine and I always make mistakes.

**Tags:** difference

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-06-12. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

「風」 in 「風景」 and 「風光」 carries the meaning of :

1. 'Style': as in 「和風」 (Japanese style) and 「作風」(style of behavior)
2. 'air; atmosphere' - (something that creates moods and evokes feelings)

「景」 in 「風景」 carries the meaning of 'scene/ sight' -- the picture you see in your eyes, as in 「奇景」(strange sight)，「場景」(scene in a play)

> The term 「風景」 (sight/ scenery) **specifically** refers to 'the sight of a landscape or a natural scenery' as in 「看風景」(watching the natural scenery )

「光」in 「風光」refers to 'light', which is needed to enable people to see -- in another word: 'sight'.

> The term「風光」 **generally** refers to 'sight/ scene /scenery'

For example:「異國**風光**」(sights and scenes of foreign country) ;「園林**風光**」(sights and scenes of garden and forest)

Of course it includes 'landscape or a natural setting' For example:
「西湖**風光**」. Therefore 「風光」and「風景」are interchangeable in this sense. (*You can write 「西湖**風景**」instead of 「西湖**風光**」*)

Unlike 「風景」, 「風光」can also be used metaphorically.

* 「**風光**大葬」(scenic funeral = **impressive, dignified** funeral)
* 「**風光**了幾十年」( have been a sight to behold for decades = have been **awesome** for decades)


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