灯ともす

と

も

す

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

godan verb (-su), transitive verb

light (a candle, lamp); turn on (a light)

Used for lighting a candle, lamp, or turning on a light. The reading とぼす is a less common variant.

ろうそくを灯ともして、部屋へやを明あかるくした。
I lit a candle and brightened the room.
暗くらくなったので、電でん気きを灯ともしてください。
It's gotten dark, so please turn on the light.

Written forms

灯すUsage35%
- ともす
  Standard kanji spelling for lighting a candle, lamp, or light.
- とぼす
ともすUsage59%
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing when the kanji is not needed.
点すUsage5%
rarely-used kanji form
- ともす
  Rarely used kanji form; 灯す is strongly preferred.
- とぼす
とぼすUsage1%
燈ともすUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
Search-only traditional form; not used in modern writing.

Kanji

灯lamp, a light, light
点spot, point, mark
燈lamp, light, counter for lights

Similar words

つける
つける is a general verb for turning on electric lights or appliances, while 灯す is more often used for lighting flames or lamps.
点てん灯とうする
点灯する is a more formal or technical term for turning on lights, often used in signs or announcements.

Etymology

The verb 灯す (ともす) is derived from 火 (hi, 'fire') + 点す (sasu, 'to insert, apply'), with the reading ともす being a contraction. The kanji 灯 carries the meaning of 'lamp' or 'light'.