Japanese word

点滅

Pronunciation

Romajitenmetsu

Meaning

  • nounblinking

Example

ランプが点滅しています。ra n pu ga ten metsu shi te i ma su

The lamp is blinking.

Illustration for 点滅 (blinking)

More examples

警告灯の点滅が運転者に異常を知らせます。kei koku tō no ten metsu ga un ten sha ni i jō o shi ra se ma su

The blinking of the warning light alerts the driver to a problem.

Core concept

Describes a light or signal repeatedly switching between bright and unlit states.

Common phrases

  • 点滅するten metsu su ru

    blink

  • 点滅が始まるten metsu ga haji ma ru

    start blinking

  • 点滅が止まるten metsu ga to ma ru

    stop blinking

  • 点滅を繰り返すten metsu o ku ri kae su

    blink repeatedly

Similar words

明滅meimetsu: The repeated alternation between light and darkness in a light or signal.

Definition in Japanese

光源や表示装置などが短い間隔で明るくなったり暗くなったりすること。kō gen ya hyō ji sō chi na do ga mijika i kan kaku de aka ru ku na tta ri kura ku na tta ri su ru ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 点滅 (tenmetsu) contains 点 (ten, "point") and 滅 (metsu, "extinguish"), describing a repeated shift between light and darkness.

Usage tips

  • The English word blinking can describe eye movements, whereas Japanese 点滅 (tenmetsu) normally describes lights, signs, or signals switching on and off.

Other meanings

  • flickeringnoun

Opposites

  • 点灯tentōsteady lightingnoun

Related words

  • 点滅器tenmetsukiflashernoun

Word lists with this word