照らす|てらすterasu[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto shine on; to illuminate
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto compare (with); to refer to
    君きみの答こたえを彼かれのと照らし合てらしあわせなさい。↗
    Check your answer with his.
Conjugation
Dictionary form照らす(てらす)
Polite (masu)照らします(てらします)
Negative (nai)照らさない(てらさない)
polite (masen)照らしません(てらしません)
classical zu / nu照らさず・照らさぬ(てらさず・てらさぬ)
Past (ta)照らした(てらした)
polite (mashita)照らしました(てらしました)
Past negative (nakatta)照らさなかった(てらさなかった)
polite (masen deshita)照らしませんでした(てらしませんでした)
Te form照らして(てらして)
Potential照らせる(てらせる)
Passive照らされる(てらされる)
Causative照らさせる(てらさせる)
Causative passive照らさせられる(てらさせられる)
Conditional (ba)照らせば(てらせば)
tara照らしたら(てらしたら)
Volitional照らそう(てらそう)
polite (mashou)照らしましょう(てらしましょう)
Imperative照らせ(てらせ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitive照らすてらす⇄intransitive照るてる
日ひが照てる
懐中電灯かいちゅうでんとうが道みちを照てらす
照る emphasizes the light source itself shining (日が照る), while 照らす emphasizes directing light onto something else (懐中電灯が道を照らす).

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym照射しょうしゃWrittenWritten Sino-Japanese word for irradiating or exposing to rays, as in 「放射線を照射する」; leans scientific or medical.
  • Synonym照らし出すてらしだすNeutralLights up a dark place so things become visible, as in 「ライトが顔を照らし出す」; unlike 照らす it stresses what the light reveals.
  • Related輝かすかがやかすNeutralMakes the thing itself glow, often eyes or a face, as in 「目を輝かす」; it does not shine light onto something else.
  • Related反射はんしゃNeutralLight or sound bouncing back off a surface, as in 「光が反射する」; the focus is reflection, not shining directly on something.
  • Related光るひかるNeutralIntransitive: gives off light or gleams, as in 「星が光る」「刃が光る」; 照らす shines light onto something else.
  • Related照り返すてりかえすNeutralSunlight or heat reflected back up, as in 「アスファルトが照り返す」; suggests strong light thrown back from a surface.
  • Related反照はんしょうWrittenWritten word for reflected light or the evening glow; found mostly in literary description.
  • Related映射えいしゃWrittenWritten word for light or images reflecting off a surface; rare today — mathematical mapping is 「写像」.
  • Related返照へんしょうWrittenWritten word for the reflected light of the setting sun; mostly seen in poetry and literary prose.
  • Antonym曇らすくもらすNeutralMakes something dark or dim, as in 「表情を曇らす」; it is the opposite of 照らす in the sense of removing brightness.
  • Antonym暗くするNeutralDims lights or darkens a place; the direct opposite of 照らす in its sense of lighting something up.

Use 「照らす」 for shining light on something or for comparing against a standard, as in 「規則に照らして」. Choose 「照らし出す」 when light reveals something in the dark, 「照射」 for scientific or medical irradiation, 「光る」 when something itself shines, and 「反射」 for light bouncing back.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 光ひかりをあてる。照明しょうめいする。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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