電気を点ける
denki o tsukeru
To turn on the light in Japanese is 電気を点ける (denki o tsukeru).
The phrase is used to describe starting the flow of electricity to a lamp or light fixture to provide light.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into 電気 (denki), meaning 'electricity' and the verb 点ける (tsukeru), which means 'to light' or 'to turn on' a source of light or fire.
How do you pronounce it?
denki o tsukeru
Did you know?
- If you use the verb つける (tsukeru), it can also mean 'to apply' or 'to dip' in other contexts. Depending on the kanji used, the word for 'turning on the light' is a homonym for 'dipping a piece of food into sauce'.
- If you want to say 'turn off the light', you use the verb 消す (kesu), which is also the standard verb used for 'erasing' or 'deleting' something written on paper. The conceptual link is the removal or negation of something present.
- The verb 点ける (tsukeru) used for turning on lights is the exact same word used to describe lighting a cigarette. This linguistic connection links the modern act of flipping an electric switch to the ancient act of striking a flame.
Examples in context
- 部屋の電気を点けるのを忘れないで。heya no denki o tsukeru no o wasurenaide.Don't forget to turn on the room light.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari enter a dark room together.
- 陽太 Yota暗いね。電気を点けるよ。kurai ne. denki o tsukeru yo.It's dark. I'll turn on the light.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとう、陽太。arigatou, youta.Thank you, Yota.
- 陽太 Yotaあ、スイッチが壊れているみたい。a, suitchi ga kowarete iru mitai.Oh, it looks like the switch is broken.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、電気を点けられないね。jaa, denki o tsukerarenai ne.Then we can't turn on the light.
