ピント

• Reading: ぴんと
• Romaji: pinto
• Pronunciation: /piɴ.to/

Meaning

Focus; focal point of a camera lens or optical instrument.

A katakana noun borrowed from Dutch 'brandpunt' (focal point). Most commonly used in photography with phrases like ピントを合わせる (to focus) and ピントがずれる (to be out of focus). Also used figuratively to mean the point or crux of a matter, as in ピントがずれている (to be off the mark/missing the point).

Examples

1. カメラのピントを合わせてからシャッターを押してください。 Please focus the camera before pressing the shutter.
2. 写真のピントがずれていてぼやけてしまった。 The photo came out blurry because it was out of focus.
3. 彼の回答はいつもピントがずれている。 His answers are always off the mark.

Usage Guide

Context: photography, optics, figurative speech

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Borrowed from Dutch 'brandpunt' (burning point/focal point), shortened to ピント. Entered Japanese during the Edo period when Dutch optical instruments were imported through Nagasaki.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal