Japanese word

ライター

Pronunciation

Romajiraitā

Meaning

  • nounlighter

Example

このライターでろうそくに火をつけます。ko no ra i tā de rō so ku ni hi o tsu ke ma su

I light a candle with this lighter.

Illustration for ライター (lighter)

More examples

このライターは小さくて、持ち運びに便利です。ko no ra i tā wa chii sa ku te mo chi hako bi ni ben ri de su

This lighter is small and easy to carry.

Core concept

The word ライター (raitā) covers two English-derived uses, each naming a source that produces something useful: a lighter produces a flame, while a writer produces written work.

Common phrases

  • ライターで火をつけるra i tā de hi o tsu ke ru

    light with a lighter

  • ライターを使うra i tā o tsuka u

    use a lighter

Definition in Japanese

燃料を使って炎を出し、物に火をつける小型の道具。nen ryō o tsuka tte honō o da shi mono ni hi o tsu ke ru ko gata no dō gu

Word origin

The lighter sense of ライター (raitā, "lighter") comes from English lighter, a form built from light and -er, and the writer sense comes from English writer, built from write and -er.

Usage tips

  • In English, lighter can also mean "less heavy" or "less dark," but Japanese ライター (raitā) usually refers to a flame-making device or a person who produces written work.

Other meanings

  • writernoun

Word lists with this word