松明・炬|たいまつtaimatsu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nountorch (made of pine, bamboo, reed, etc.); flambeau; torchlight
   望遠鏡ぼうえんきょうで見みると、それはたいまつであることがわかった。↗

   It was identified by telescope as a torch.

• SynonymトーチNeutralLoanword for a torch, also a flashlight; common for the Olympic flame and in tool names.
• Synonym炬火きょかWrittenWritten/formal prose and rarely used; a Sino-Japanese word for a torch or torchlight.
• Synonym続松ついまつWrittenAn old word for a torch, also the karuta card game; rare in modern use.
• Related焚き火たきびNeutralA fire built on the ground — a bonfire, campfire or open fire for burning garden refuse; 「松明」 is a torch you carry.
• Relatedかがり火かがりびNeutralA bonfire burned in an iron basket for watchfires, night fishing or festivals, mainly to light the surroundings.
• Related門火かどびWrittenA fire lit at the gate for weddings, funerals or Obon; a folk-ritual term.
• Related庭火にわびWrittenWritten, archaic and elegant: a bonfire in a garden or outdoors, especially at imperial court rites; 「松明」 is a handheld torch.
• Related大かがり火おおかがりびNeutralA large bonfire, typically at festivals; not a torch you carry.

Use 「松明」 for a handheld torch, as in 「松明を掲げる」. For a fire built on the ground say 「焚き火」, for one in an iron basket 「かがり火」, for the Olympic torch or a flashlight 「トーチ」, and for a gate fire at rites 「門火」.

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

1. 手てで持もてるようにした火ひのついた木切きぎれ。照明しょうめいなどに使用しようする。