望遠(ぼうえん)

ぼうえん
noun
telephoto; long-range viewing
technical
1. telephoto; long-range viewing; distant view
Viewing or photographing distant objects using lenses or optical equipment. Composed of 望 (gaze/hope) + 遠 (distant). Most commonly used in compound words related to optics and photography.
望遠(ぼうえん)レンズで鳥(とり)を撮影(さつえい)した。
I photographed birds with a telephoto lens.
望遠(ぼうえん)鏡(きょう)で月(つき)の表面(ひょうめん)を観察(かんさつ)した。
I observed the surface of the moon with a telescope.
スマホのカメラにも望遠(ぼうえん)機能(きのう)が付(つ)いている機種(きしゅ)がある。
Some smartphone models have a telephoto camera function.

Usage

望遠(ぼうえん) is most commonly encountered in compound words rather than used alone. The two most important compounds are 望遠(ぼうえん)レンズ (telephoto lens) and 望遠(ぼうえん)鏡(きょう) (telescope).

Common collocations

Similar words

広角(こうかく) (wide-angle) is the opposite concept in photography. 遠望(えんぼう) means 'distant view' but refers to looking at a faraway landscape rather than using optical equipment.

Related Words

Antonym: 広角(こうかく) (wide-angle)
Related: 遠望(えんぼう) (distant view)
general
Added 2026.3.7 19:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
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