How to say "lantern" in Japanese

• ランタン
  nounThe general, catch-all word for a lantern, typically the portable kind used for light at a campsite or similar. When you simply mean 'lantern' and no specialized context applies, this is the safest choice.
• カンテラ
  nounA lantern in the sense of a handheld oil lamp or hurricane lamp. If you picture a flame-lit lamp carried in the hand, this is the fitting word; for other kinds of lantern ランタン is more natural.
• ラテルネ
  nounCovers lantern in the specific context of mountaineering, meaning the lamps climbers carry. Outside that hiking and climbing setting it is not the word you want; use ランタン instead.
• 灯体とうたい
  nounA technical theatre term: the lighting instrument itself on a stage. It corresponds to 'lantern' in British theatre usage (US 'instrument'), so it only fits that professional lighting sense, never an ordinary lamp.
• 越屋根こしやね
  nounAn architectural term for a roof monitor or monitor roof, i.e. a raised structure on a roof. 'Lantern (roof)' is a secondary architectural sense; it is not a word for any actual lighting device.

Choose 「ランタン」 for a general lantern, 「カンテラ」 for a handheld oil or hurricane lamp, 「ラテルネ」 for mountaineering, 灯体 for British theatrical lighting, and 越屋根 only for the roof architectural feature.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• ランタンlantern
• カンテラlantern (esp. handheld oil lamp)
• ラテルネlantern (for mountaineering)
• 灯体とうたいtheatrical light
• 越屋根こしやねroof monitor