Translation guide
The English phrase "turn on" has many meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: activating devices, starting a flow, exciting someone, and more. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being turned on.
To cause an electronic device, appliance, or machine to start operating by pressing a switch, button, etc.
General verb for turning on lights, TVs, computers, etc. Transitive.
電気をつけてください。
Please turn on the light.
テレビをつけたまま寝てしまった。
I fell asleep with the TV on.
Literally 'put in the switch'. Used for flipping a switch to on. More specific than つける.
部屋のスイッチを入れてください。
Please turn on the room switch.
Turn on the power. Common for computers and electronic devices.
パソコンの電源を入れてください。
Please turn on the computer.
Technical term for booting up or starting a system/software. Formal.
システムを起動してください。
Please start up the system.
To cause water, gas, or a similar substance to flow by opening a valve or tap.
General verb for 'put out' or 'let out'. Used for water, gas, etc.
お風呂のお湯を出してください。
Please turn on the bath water.
ガスを出して、火をつけてください。
Turn on the gas and light it.
To twist (a faucet). Used for turning on a tap.
To cause someone to feel excited, interested, or sexually aroused.
To excite or arouse. Can be used for emotional or sexual excitement.
その映画は彼を興奮させた。
That movie turned him on.
To pique interest. Less intense than 興奮させる.
その話は私の興味をそそった。
That story turned me on (interested me).
Slang for causing sexual arousal. Very casual.
あの子を見るとムラムラする。
Seeing that girl turns me on.
To suddenly become aggressive or attack someone verbally or physically.
To attack or assault. Can be physical or verbal.
彼は突然私に襲いかかった。
He suddenly turned on me.
To become an enemy. Used when someone changes allegiance.
彼は味方から敵に回った。
He turned on his allies.
To be contingent upon something; to hinge on.
Depends on ~. Formal pattern.
成功は努力次第だ。
Success turns on effort.
Hinges on ~. Common in spoken and written Japanese.
全ては君の決断にかかっている。
Everything turns on your decision.
While つける is used for electrical devices, it is not used for turning on water or gas. Use 出す or ひねる instead.
つける is the most common verb for turning on electrical devices. 入れる (to put in) is used with スイッチ (switch) or 電源 (power). You can say テレビをつける but not テレビを入れる. However, テレビのスイッチを入れる is fine.
エアコンをつけてもらえますか？
Could you turn on the air conditioner?
Turn on the faucet and let the water run.