Japanese Conversation · Level 7
90 words
Japanese word
ビーム
Pronunciation
Romajibīmu
Meaning
- nounbeam
Example
レーザーのビームが壁を照らします。rē zā no bī mu ga kabe o te ra shi ma su
The laser beam lights up the wall.
More examples
懐中電灯のビームが霧の中でまっすぐ伸びています。kai chū den tō no bī mu ga kiri no naka de ma ssu gu no bi te i ma su
The flashlight beam stretches straight through the fog.
Core concept
Describes light or other energy concentrated into a thin line and sent in a set direction.
Common phrases
レーザービームrē zā bī mu
laser beam
細いビームhoso i bī mu
narrow beam
ビームを絞るbī mu o shibo ru
focus the beam
Similar words
光線kōsen: A narrow line of visible light traveling in one direction.
Definition in Japanese
光や電波などが、細く集中して遠くへ進むもの。hikari ya den pa na do ga hoso ku shū chū shi te tō ku e susu mu mo no
Word origin
ビーム (bīmu) comes from English beam, whose Old English source bēam meant "tree" and "wooden beam"; English later used it for a ray of light.
Usage tips
- In English, beam also means a long horizontal piece that supports a building, a sense separate from the narrow stream meaning.