1.
rotating light; revolving beacon; emergency light
A light with a rotating mechanism that produces a flashing or sweeping beam, used on emergency vehicles, construction sites, and warning systems.
パトカーの回転灯が光っていた。
The police car's emergency light was flashing.
工事現場に黄色い回転灯が設置されている。
Yellow rotating lights are set up at the construction site.
救急車の赤い回転灯が見えたので、道を開けた。
I saw the ambulance's red rotating light and made way.
Composed of 回転 (rotation) + 灯 (light, lamp). The color of the 回転灯 in Japan indicates the vehicle type: 赤色 (red) for emergency vehicles like police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances; 黄色 (yellow) for construction and road service vehicles; 青色 (blue) for voluntary crime prevention patrols.
Modern versions often use LED technology rather than actual rotating bulbs, but the term 回転灯 persists.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 回転灯が光る: the rotating light flashes
- 回転灯を付ける: to turn on the rotating light
- 赤色回転灯: red emergency light
- パトカーの回転灯: police car's light
SIMILAR WORDS:
- パトランプ: patrol lamp — casual term for a police car's flashing light
- 警光灯: warning light — a more formal term for vehicle-mounted emergency lights
- サイレン: siren — the audible warning, often used together with the rotating light