also: げつえい
noun
Poetic or literary word for moonlight or the moon itself, often evoking a gentle, beautiful image. In modern Japanese, 月光 (げっこう) is more common for 'moonlight'.
月影が水面に映って美しかった。
The moonlight reflected on the water was beautiful.
彼は月影を頼りに夜
He walked the night path by the light of the moon.
The standard, everyday word for 'moonlight'. 月影 is more poetic and less common.
Compound of 月 (つき, 'moon') and 影 (かげ, 'shadow' or 'light'). The reading げつえい is the on'yomi version, now largely archaic.