Japanese word

点火

Pronunciation

Romajitenka

Meaning

  • nounignition

Example

点火後は、火が消えないか確認します。ten ka ato wa hi ga ki e na i ka kaku nin shi ma su

After ignition, I check that the flame does not go out.

Illustration for 点火 (ignition)

More examples

このストーブは点火しやすいです。ko no su tō bu wa ten ka shi ya su i de su

This heater is easy to light.

Core concept

It marks the start of burning by applying a flame or spark to fuel.

Common phrases

  • 点火装置ten ka sō chi

    ignition device

  • 点火ボタンten ka bo ta n

    ignition button

Similar words

着火chakka: The point at which fuel or another material begins to burn.
発火hakka: The beginning of combustion through heat, a spark, or a chemical reaction.
引火inka: The ignition of a flammable substance after contact with a flame or intense heat.

Definition in Japanese

燃料やガスなどに火や火花をつけて燃焼を始めること。nen ryō ya ga su na do ni hi ya hi bana o tsu ke te nen shō o haji me ru ko to

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 点火 (tenka) combines 点 (ten, "to light") and 火 (ka, "fire"), so its structure directly reflects starting a fire.

Usage tips

  • 点火 (tenka) is a formal technical noun often found in safety instructions for gas appliances, where it identifies the start of combustion rather than the whole process of using the appliance.

Other meanings

  • firingnoun
  • lightingnoun

Opposites

  • 消火shōkaextinguishingnoun

Related words

  • 点火するtenkasuruigniteverb

Word lists with this word