1.
light, lamplight, glow
A gentle light from a lamp, candle, or similar source. Implies a warm, soft quality of illumination rather than bright or harsh light.
ろうそくの灯りが揺れる。
The candlelight flickers.
窓から灯りが漏れている。
Light is leaking from the window.
街灯の灯りに照らされた夜道を歩いた。
I walked along the night road lit by streetlamps.
USAGE:
Written as 灯り (with the kanji 灯) to emphasize the sense of lamplight or flame-based illumination. The homophone 明かり uses a different kanji and emphasizes brightness in general. Both readings overlap considerably in practice, but 灯り tends toward warm, ambient light.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ろうそくの灯り: candlelight
- 街の灯り: city lights
- 灯りをつける: to turn on the light
- 灯りを消す: to turn off the light
- 灯りが灯る: a light comes on