ランタン

A loanword from English/Dutch "lantern." In modern Japanese, ランタン most often evokes camping and outdoor lanterns.

Usage

ランタン is the standard word for portable lanterns used outdoors, especially in camping contexts. For traditional Japanese or Chinese paper lanterns, 提灯(ちょうちん) is used instead. Decorative lanterns at festivals or Chinese-style lanterns hung for the Lantern Festival may also be called ランタン in modern media.

Common collocations

• LEDランタン: LED lantern
• ガスランタン: gas lantern
• ランタンを灯(とも)す: to light a lantern
• ランタンの明(あ)かり: lantern light
• キャンプ用(よう)ランタン: camping lantern

Similar words

• 提灯(ちょうちん): paper lantern — the traditional Japanese collapsible paper lantern, used at festivals and outside izakaya
• 灯籠(とうろう): stone or metal lantern — decorative garden or shrine lanterns
• 懐中電灯(かいちゅうでんとう): flashlight — a handheld directional light, not ambient like a lantern