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灯 (とう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

灯とう

と

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

Refers to a light source or lamp, often in compound words like 蛍光灯 (fluorescent lamp) or 灯台 (lighthouse).

部屋へやの灯とうをつける。
I turn on the light in the room.
灯とうが消きえた。
The light went out.

2

suffix, counter

counter for electric lights

Used as a suffix to count electric lights, e.g., 一灯 (one light), 二灯 (two lights).

この部屋へやには蛍けい光こう灯とうが二に灯とうある。
There are two fluorescent lights in this room.

Written forms

灯とうUsage78%
Standard modern kanji for light/lamp.
燈とうUsage12%
out-dated kanji form
Out-dated kanji form; still seen in older texts or proper nouns.
とうUsage10%

Kanji

灯

lamp, a light, light

燈lamp, light, counter for lights

Similar words

明あかり
明かり is a more general term for light or illumination, while 灯 often implies a lamp or specific light fixture.
電でん灯とう
電灯 specifically means electric light, whereas 灯 can refer to any lamp or light source.

Etymology

The kanji 灯 is a simplified form of 燈, which combines 火 (fire) and 登 (ascend), suggesting a flame rising. The reading とう is the on'yomi.