スイッチを入れる
suitchi o ireru
To turn on in Japanese is スイッチを入れる (suitchi o ireru). Wiktionary also lists オンする (on suru).
Meaning: (transitive) to activate an appliance, light, mechanism, functionality etc. (verb)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| スイッチを入れる | suitchi o ireru |
| オンする | on suru |
This phrase is used to activate an appliance, a light, a mechanism or a specific functionality. Depending on what you are turning on, other phrases may be more natural. For example, if you are specifically turning on the lights, you would use 電気をつける. If you are referring to the formal act of starting up machines like computers or engines, use 起動する. For the informal context of starting software or booting up a computer, 立ち上げる is commonly used.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase スイッチを入れる literally means to put in the switch.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express that you have already turned something on in the past tense, use the form スイッチを入れた.
How do you pronounce it?
suitchi o ireru
Did you know?
- While スイッチを入れる refers to the mechanical act of turning something on, the phrase スイッチが入る describes a person suddenly becoming hyper-focused or overly excited about a task.
- To turn off a switch, Japanese uses the verb 切る, which literally means 'to cut', imagining the physical severing of an electrical circuit.
- In technical or formal contexts, the word 起動 is used for 'starting up' a system, which shares its roots with the word for 'mobilization' in a military sense.
Examples in context
- テレビのスイッチを入れる。Terebi no suitchi o ireru.Turn on the TV.
- 電気のスイッチを入れるのを忘れないで。Denki no suitchi o ireru no o wasurenaide.Don't forget to turn on the light.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are in a dark living room.
- 美咲 Misaki真っ暗で何も見えないよ。Makkura de nani mo mienai yo.It's pitch black and I can't see anything.
- 蓮 Renすぐに照明のスイッチを入れるね。Sugu ni shoumei no suitchi o ireru ne.I'll turn on the light right away.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとう、助かったわ。Arigatou, tasukatta wa.Thank you, that helps.
- 蓮 Renこれでやっと落ち着けるね。Kore de yatto ochitsukeru ne.Now we can finally relax.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turn on” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
