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照明弾 (shoumeidan) Japanese meaning: flare | Kotomora

照しょう明めい弾だん

しょ

う

め

い

だ

ん

Meanings

1

flare; star shell

A pyrotechnic projectile used to illuminate an area, typically in military or maritime contexts.

夜や間かんの救きゅう助じょ活かつ動どうで照しょう明めい弾だんが使つかわれ

た

。

Flares were used during the nighttime rescue operation.

艦かん船せんが照しょう明めい弾だんを打うち上あげて周しゅう囲いを照てらした。

The ship fired a star shell to illuminate the surrounding area.

Kanji

照illuminate, shine, compare
明bright, light
弾bullet, twang, flip

Related words

信しん号ごう弾だん
信号弾 is a signal flare used for communication, while 照明弾 is specifically for illumination.
発はつ煙えん筒とう
発煙筒 is a smoke grenade or smoke candle, producing smoke rather than light.

Etymology

Compound of 照明 (illumination) and 弾 (projectile, shell). The term is a straightforward technical coinage.