lighter
軽い
解説 Definition
lighter は、より軽いという意味です。日本語のカタカナ語「ライター」は火をつける道具を指すことが多いですが、ここでは light（軽い）の比較級として使われます。
Lighter is the comparative form of the adjective light, meaning having less weight than another person or thing, or less weight than before. It can be followed by than or placed before a noun.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
light「軽い」に比較級の -er を付けた形で、「より軽い」と覚えます。語末が通常の子音なので、そのまま light＋er です。発音は /ˈlaɪtər/。lighter than mine のように than と組み合わせたり、lighter suitcase のように名詞の前に置いたりします。火をつける名詞の lighter「ライター」と文脈で区別しましょう。
Build lighter directly from light, meaning “not heavy,” plus the regular comparative ending -er. Nothing is removed or doubled: light becomes lighter, pronounced /ˈlaɪtər/. Use it when comparing weight, as in “This bag is lighter than mine,” or before a noun when the comparison is understood, as in “I need a lighter suitcase.” The phrase easier to move often reinforces the intended meaning. Be careful with the identical noun lighter, the small device used to make a flame. In these examples, comparison and nearby words such as bag, suitcase, and than show that lighter means “less heavy.”
例文
This bag is lighter than mine.
このバッグは私のものより軽いです。
I need a lighter suitcase for the trip.
旅行にはもっと軽いスーツケースが必要です。
The new chair is lighter and easier to move.
新しい椅子はより軽く、動かしやすいです。
lighter の類義語・関連語
lighter の語源・成り立ち Etymology
`lighter` は `light` の比較級で、古英語 `leoht`「重くない」に比較語尾 `-er` が付いた形です。語根はゲルマン祖語を経て「軽い」を表す古い印欧語にさかのぼり、“より重さが少ない”という意味がそのまま形になっています。関連語は `lighten`、`lightweight`。
Lighter is formed within English by adding the comparative suffix -er to light, meaning “not heavy.” Light in this sense comes from Old English lēoht and belongs to an old Germanic family of words expressing low weight. The comparative ending -er also descends from Old English and remains productive in modern English. Thus, the word’s structure transparently expresses “more light in weight,” or, more naturally, “having less weight.”
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