望遠鏡

• Reading: ぼうえんきょう
• Romaji: bouenkyou
• Kanji breakdown: 望 (bou) — gaze, hope; 遠 (en) — far, distant; 鏡 (kyou) — mirror, lens
• Pronunciation: /boː.eɴ.kʲoː/

Meaning

Telescope; an optical instrument for viewing distant objects by magnifying them.

A noun for both refracting and reflecting telescopes. Used in astronomy, birdwatching, and general science contexts. Related terms include 天体望遠鏡 (astronomical telescope) and 双眼鏡 (binoculars). A tangible, concrete noun but categorised at N2 due to its specific kanji combination.

Examples

1. 天体望遠鏡で月のクレーターを観察した。 I observed craters on the moon with an astronomical telescope.
2. 新しい望遠鏡を買って星を見るのが楽しみだ。 I'm excited to buy a new telescope and look at the stars.
3. 山の上から望遠鏡で遠くの景色を眺めた。 I used a telescope to gaze at the distant scenery from the mountaintop.

Usage Guide

Context: astronomy, science, hobbies, education

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 望 (bou, to gaze/hope) + 遠 (en, far) + 鏡 (kyou, mirror/lens). Literally 'far-gazing mirror,' describing an instrument for looking at distant things.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal