Translation guide
How to refer to a cigarette lighter in Japanese, including common terms, colloquialisms, and related expressions.
The small handheld device used to produce a flame for lighting cigarettes, candles, etc.
The most common and general word for a lighter. A loanword from English, used in everyday conversation.
ライターを貸してくれますか。
Can I borrow your lighter?
このライターはもうガスが切れている。
This lighter is out of gas.
A more formal or technical term for an ignition device, including lighters. Often seen in written instructions or product descriptions.
この着火器は風に強い設計です。
This lighter is designed to be wind-resistant.
Literally 'fire-starter'. An old-fashioned or rustic term for a lighter or any tool used to start a fire. Rarely used for modern lighters.
昔は火付けに火打ち石を使った。
In the old days, they used flint to start fires.
The fuel used in a lighter.
Specifically refers to lighter fluid (liquid fuel) for Zippo-style lighters.
ライターオイルを買わないと。
I need to buy lighter fluid.
Refers to butane gas refills for disposable or refillable gas lighters.
ライターガスが切れた。
The lighter gas ran out.
The electric socket in a car originally designed for lighting cigarettes.
The standard term for a car cigarette lighter. Often shortened to just 'ライター' in context.
シガーライターのソケットに充電器を差した。
I plugged the charger into the cigarette lighter socket.
While not a lighter itself, this is the common term for a USB adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter socket. Useful when the socket is used for power.
シガーライターにカーチャージャーを挿してスマホを充電する。
I charge my smartphone by plugging a car charger into the cigarette lighter.
The comparative form of 'light' (not heavy).
Standard pattern for comparing weight: 'B is lighter than A'. Use 軽い (かるい) for 'light'.
このノートパソコンは前のより軽い。
This laptop is lighter than my previous one.
Negative comparison: 'A is not as heavy as B', implying A is lighter.
このスーツケースは見た目ほど重くない。
This suitcase is lighter than it looks.
The comparative form of 'light' (pale, not dark in color).
Use 明るい for brightness (light vs. dark) and 薄い for paleness of color (light vs. deep).
この部屋は隣の部屋より明るい。
This room is lighter than the next room.
この青はあの青より薄い。
This blue is lighter than that blue.
Less serious, severe, or heavy in tone/mood.
軽い can also mean 'light' in the sense of not serious or not heavy. 気楽 means carefree or easygoing.
今日は軽い話題にしよう。
Let's stick to lighter topics today.
この映画は前作より気楽に見られる。
This movie is lighter viewing than the previous one.
The English word 'lighter' can also mean a device that provides light (e.g., a lamp). In Japanese, that is 照明 (しょうめい) or ライト, not ライター. ライター always refers to a flame-producing device.
部屋の照明が暗い。
The room's lighting is dim.
ライター is a lighter, マッチ (まっち) is a match. In Japanese, マッチ is the common word for a matchstick.
ライターがないならマッチを使おう。
If you don't have a lighter, let's use matches.
もっと薄い青が好きです。
I prefer a lighter shade of blue.