Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| ランプ | ranpu | [ɾã̠mpɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 明かり | akari | [a̠ka̠ɾʲi] (narrow) |
| 灯 | tō | [to̞ː] (narrow) [to̞mo̞ɕi] (narrow) |
| 電灯 | dentō | [dẽ̞nto̞ː] (narrow) |
The term ランプ is a loanword used to refer to a specific decorative or standalone lamp, often in the context of interior design or objects like table lamps. Other terms may be used depending on whether you are referring to the light produced or the technical nature of the device.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 電灯 is a combination of two parts: 電 (electricity) and 灯 (light or lamp).
Which one should you use?
The forms you choose depend on what aspect of a lamp you wish to emphasize. ランプ refers specifically to a decorative or standalone lamp. In contrast, 明かり refers to the light or illumination produced by a source rather than the physical device itself. If you are referring specifically to electric lighting to distinguish it from light produced by fire or candles, use 電灯. The word 灯 can also be used for light or lamp.
How do you pronounce it?
ranpu
Did you know?
- While ランプ sounds like the English 'lamp', it was originally introduced to Japanese via the Dutch word for lamp.
- The word 明かり is not a noun for a device, but actually comes from the stem of the verb あかる (akaru), which means 'to become bright'.
Examples in context
- あのランプ好きだな。I like that lamp.This sentence shows how to express liking a specific ランプ.Tatoeba #8649519 by small_snow, translation #6604382 by Hybrid
- 私は古いランプを買った。I bought an old lamp.This sentence demonstrates using ランプ when describing a purchase.Tatoeba #157235 by bunbuku, translation #257298 by CK
- 彼は天井にランプを吊した。He hung a lamp from the ceiling.This sentence illustrates the use of ランプ when describing an action involving a ceiling.Tatoeba #101940 by small_snow, translation #301752 by CK
- 長い一日の後、彼女は机の上のあかりを消した。After a long day, she turned off the lamp on her desk.
- 部屋に入ると、彼はランプを点けた。When he entered the room, he turned on the lamp.
- 秋祭りでは、たくさんのちょうちんが街を照らす。During the autumn festival, many paper lanterns illuminate the streets.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A young man and woman are decorating a room.
- 陽葵 Himariこのランプ、可愛くない？Kono ranpu, kawaikunai?Isn't this lamp cute?
- 陽太 Yota本当だね、陽葵。すごくおしゃれだよ。Hontō da ne, Himari. Sugoku oshare da yo.It really is, Himari. It's very stylish.
- 陽葵 Himari陽太の部屋にも合うと思うんだ。Yōta no heya ni mo au to omou n da.I think it would suit your room too, Yōta.
- 陽太 Yotaいいね、そこに置こう。Ii ne, soko ni okō.Sounds good, let's put it there.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “lamp” translations and entries ランプ, 明かり, 灯, 電灯, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ランプ, 明かり, 灯, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
