Translation guide
The English phrase "turn on" has many meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: activating devices, starting a flow, exciting someone, and more. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being turned on.
To cause an electronic device, appliance, or machine to start operating by pressing a switch, button, etc.
General verb for turning on lights, TVs, computers, etc. Transitive.
Please turn on the light.
I fell asleep with the TV on.
Literally 'put in the switch'. Used for flipping a switch to on. More specific than つける.
Please turn on the room switch.
Turn on the power. Common for computers and electronic devices.
Please turn on the computer.
Technical term for booting up or starting a system/software. Formal.
Please start up the system.
To cause water, gas, or a similar substance to flow by opening a valve or tap.
To cause someone to feel excited, interested, or sexually aroused.
To suddenly become aggressive or attack someone verbally or physically.
To be contingent upon something; to hinge on.
While つける is used for electrical devices, it is not used for turning on water or gas. Use 出す or ひねる instead.
つける is the most common verb for turning on electrical devices. 入れる (to put in) is used with スイッチ (switch) or 電源 (power). You can say テレビをつける but not テレビを入れる. However, テレビのスイッチを入れる is fine.
Could you turn on the air conditioner?
Turn on the faucet and let the water run.