Translation guide
In Japanese, kerosene is commonly referred to as 灯油 (tōyu), which is the standard term for heating and lamp oil. There is also a more technical term ケロシン (keroshin), borrowed from English, used mainly in industrial or aviation contexts.
The most common meaning: a fuel oil used in heaters, lamps, and stoves in everyday life.
The standard Japanese word for kerosene used in homes. It is the fuel for kerosene heaters (石油ストーブ) and lamps.
寒いので灯油を買いに行きます。
It's cold, so I'm going to buy some kerosene.
灯油の値段が上がった。
The price of kerosene has gone up.
A loanword from English, used in technical or industrial contexts, such as aviation fuel or chemical solvents. Not used for household heating oil.
この溶剤はケロシンを含んでいます。
This solvent contains kerosene.
Kerosene used as jet fuel.
The common term for jet fuel, which is a type of kerosene. Often used in news and general contexts.
飛行機はジェット燃料で飛びます。
Airplanes fly on jet fuel.
In aviation, ケロシン specifically refers to the kerosene fraction used as jet fuel. More technical than ジェット燃料.
石油 (sekiyu) means petroleum or crude oil in general, not specifically kerosene. A kerosene heater is called 石油ストーブ (sekiyu sutōbu), but the fuel itself is 灯油. Using 石油 to mean kerosene can cause confusion.
石油ストーブに灯油を入れてください。
Please put kerosene in the kerosene heater.
ケロシンは航空機の燃料として使われる。
Kerosene is used as fuel for aircraft.