Translation guide
A thin, flexible strand of glass or plastic used to transmit light signals, primarily for high-speed data communication.
optical fibre
Most common term for the physical cable or technology.
The physical medium used in telecommunications and networking.
The most common and standard term for optical fibre in Japanese. Used in both technical and everyday contexts.
This building is connected to the internet via optical fibre.
A variant spelling without the long vowel mark. Equally common in technical documents.
The installation work for the optical fibre cable has begun.
Literally 'optical cable'. Often used when referring to the cable as a whole, including its protective jacket.
Optical cables enable faster data transmission than copper wires.
Full term combining 'optical fibre' and 'cable'. Used in specifications and formal contexts.
Measure the loss of the optical fibre cable.
Referring to the technology or concept of optical fibre communication.
Referring to fibre-optic internet connections, often in consumer contexts.
Commonly used by ISPs and consumers to mean 'fibre optic line' or 'fibre internet connection'.
After switching to a fibre optic line, videos play smoothly now.
Means 'fibre internet'. Used in marketing and casual conversation.
This apartment is equipped for fibre internet.
光ファイバー refers specifically to the glass or plastic fibre itself, while 光ケーブル refers to the entire cable assembly including protective layers. In everyday use, they are often interchangeable, but in technical contexts, the distinction matters.
An optical fibre is as thin as a human hair.
Run the optical cable through the wall.
In Japanese, '光' (ひかり) is often used as a prefix to indicate fibre-optic or optical technology. For example, 光回線 (fibre optic line), 光通信 (optical communication), 光ネットワーク (optical network). This is a productive pattern.
The data is transmitted through optical fibres.
Optical fibre cables are laid under the ocean.
Means 'optical communication'. Often used when the emphasis is on the communication method rather than the physical medium.
Optical communication is resistant to electromagnetic interference.