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.
Can I borrow your lighter?
A more formal or technical term for an ignition device, including lighters. Often seen in written instructions or product descriptions.
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.
The fuel used in a lighter.
Specifically refers to lighter fluid (liquid fuel) for Zippo-style lighters.
I need to buy lighter fluid.
The electric socket in a car originally designed for lighting cigarettes.
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'.
This laptop is lighter than my previous one.
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).
This room is lighter than the next room.
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.
Let's stick to lighter topics today.
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.
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.
This lighter is out of gas.
昔は火付けに火打ち石を使った。
In the old days, they used flint to start fires.
Refers to butane gas refills for disposable or refillable gas lighters.
The lighter gas ran out.
The standard term for a car cigarette lighter. Often shortened to just 'ライター' in context.
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.
I charge my smartphone by plugging a car charger into the cigarette lighter.
Negative comparison: 'A is not as heavy as B', implying A is lighter.
This suitcase is lighter than it looks.
This blue is lighter than that blue.
This movie is lighter viewing than the previous one.
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.
This lighter is empty.
casual
I prefer a lighter shade of blue.