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灯火 (ともしび) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
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すみ
に
小ちい
さな
灯ともし
火び
が
揺ゆ
れ
て
い
た
。
A small lamp flickered in the corner of the room.
He walked down the dark hallway holding a light.
Usage patterns 灯火ともしび をともす to light a lamp/lantern
As evening fell, they lit a lamp under the eaves.
灯火ともしび が 消き える for a lamp/light to go out
The wind blew and the lamp went out.
灯火ともしび を 消け す to put out a lamp/lantern
I put out the lamp before going to sleep.
遠とお くに 灯火ともしび が 見み える to see a distant light/lamp
A small light could be seen beyond the mountain.
Kanji 燈 lamp, light, counter for lights Related words 明かり is a general word for light or illumination, including electric light, while 灯火 specifically evokes a flame-based lamp with a traditional or literary feel.
灯明 refers to a lamp lit as a religious offering, especially before a Buddhist altar, whereas 灯火 is the broader poetic word for any flame-based light.
ランプ is a loanword usually meaning a Western-style oil or kerosene lamp, while 灯火 is a native Japanese word with a broader, more poetic range.
Written forms 灯ともし 火び Usage 3%
Standard modern spelling.
ともしび Usage 89%
燈ともし 火び Usage 8%
out-dated kanji form
Old-form kanji; 燈 is the kyūjitai of 灯.
灯ともしび
Simplified variant; may be confused with other readings such as あかり or ひ.
Etymology From 灯し火, combining 灯し, the continuative form of 灯す “to light,” with 火 “fire.” The compound underwent voicing and contraction to ともしび.
燭ともしび
Uncommon kanji; mainly historical or literary.
灯とも し 火び
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; rarely seen.
