How to say "kindle" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 焚くたくgodan verb, transitive verbCovers the everyday sense of kindling or lighting a fire, and extends to making a fire generally. Think of building a wood fire outdoors or in a stove; this is the natural choice for that meaning.
- nounNot a verb for kindling anything — this is simply the name of Amazon's Kindle e-book reader. If your sentence is about igniting something, this one is never the word you want.
- 焚きつけるたきつけるichidan verb, transitive verbA related, less common verb meaning to light or kindle a fire, often with the nuance of getting flames going. Use it when you specifically mean starting a fire going, not for fire-making in general.
- 点ずるてんずるichidan verb (-zuru), transitive verbDespite the gloss, this word is chiefly about dropping, lighting something such as a flame, or making tea; it is a formal, less common choice. It is seldom the word you want for kindling a fire.
- 点じるてんじるichidan verb, transitive verbThe other conjugation form of the same verb, with the same senses of dropping, lighting, kindling, and making tea. Like its counterpart, it is a less common option and rarely the best fit for kindling a fire.
Use 「焚く」 for building or lighting a fire; 「キンドル」 is only Amazon's e-reader; 「焚きつける」 covers kindling a fire; and 「点ずる」/「点じる」 mainly mean to light something or make tea.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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