Japanese Conversation · Level 102
60 words
Japanese word
灯台
Pronunciation
Romajitōdai
Meaning
- nounlighthouse
Example
夜になると、灯台が光ります。yoru ni na ru to tō dai ga hika ri ma su
At night, the lighthouse shines.
More examples
船は遠くの灯台を目印に進みます。fune wa tō ku no tō dai o me jirushi ni susu mi ma su
The ship navigates by a distant lighthouse.
Core concept
A fixed tower or structure sends a visible light across the water to guide ships and mark a coast.
Common phrases
灯台の光tō dai no hikari
light from the lighthouse
灯台に登るtō dai ni nobo ru
climb a lighthouse
Definition in Japanese
海岸や岩礁などに設け、光を発して船の航行を導く塔状の施設。kai gan ya gan shō na do ni mō ke hikari o has shi te fune no kō kō o michibi ku tō jō no shi setsu
Word origin
The Japanese noun 灯台 (tōdai) combines 灯 (tō, "light") and 台 (dai, "stand"), describing a light mounted on a supporting structure.
Usage tips
- In English, lighthouse sometimes serves as a metaphor for a person or idea that guides others, while its basic sense remains a coastal light structure.