Translation guide
A lantern is a portable light source with a protective enclosure. In Japanese, the most common word is 提灯 (chōchin), a collapsible paper lantern. Other terms exist for different types, such as 灯籠 (tōrō) for stone or metal garden lanterns, and ランタン (rantan) for Western-style camping lanterns.
A collapsible lantern made of paper on a bamboo frame, often used in festivals, restaurants, or as a traditional light source.
The standard word for a traditional Japanese paper lantern. It is collapsible and often seen at festivals, outside restaurants, or as decoration.
祭りにはたくさんの提灯が飾られていた。
Many lanterns were displayed at the festival.
提灯に火をともす。
Light a lantern.
Hiragana version of 提灯, commonly used in informal writing or for simplicity.
ちょうちんを持って歩く。
Walk carrying a lantern.
A fixed lantern made of stone, metal, or wood, commonly found in Japanese gardens, temples, or as outdoor decoration.
Refers to a stationary lantern, typically made of stone and used in gardens or at temples. Not collapsible like a 提灯.
庭に石の灯籠がある。
There is a stone lantern in the garden.
神社の灯籠に明かりがともる。
The lantern at the shrine is lit.
A portable lantern using glass and metal, often fueled by oil or batteries, used for camping or emergencies.
Loanword from English, used for Western-style lanterns, especially camping lanterns or hurricane lamps.
キャンプにランタンを持っていく。
Bring a lantern to the camp.
停電のときにランタンを使った。
I used a lantern during the power outage.
From Dutch 'kandelaar', refers to a small oil lantern or hurricane lamp. Slightly old-fashioned.
A small hot-air balloon made of paper, released into the sky during festivals.
Literally 'sky lantern', used for the floating paper lanterns released during some festivals. Less common than スカイランタン.
天灯を空に放つ。
Release a sky lantern into the sky.
Loanword for sky lantern, commonly used in event contexts.
スカイランタン祭りに参加した。
I participated in a sky lantern festival.
提灯 (chōchin) is a collapsible paper lantern, often used indoors or at festivals. 灯籠 (tōrō) is a fixed lantern made of stone or metal, found in gardens and temples. ランタン (rantan) is a Western-style lantern, typically for camping or emergencies.
提灯は折りたためるが、灯籠は固定されている。
A chōchin can be folded, but a tōrō is fixed.
ランタン usually refers to a Western-style lantern with glass and metal. Using it for a paper lantern (提灯) may cause confusion.
昔の人はカンテラを使って夜道を歩いた。
People in the old days walked at night using a lantern.