ロケット

• Reading: ロケット
• Romaji: roketto
• Pronunciation: /ɾo.ke.t.to/

Meaning

Rocket; locket. A spacecraft propulsion vehicle, or a small pendant that opens to hold a photo.

A loanword with two distinct meanings from English. The primary modern usage refers to rockets and spacecraft (ロケットを打ち上げる, launch a rocket). The secondary meaning, a locket pendant, is less common but still understood. Context usually makes the intended meaning clear.

Examples

1. 日本は新しいロケットの打ち上げに成功した。 Japan successfully launched a new rocket.
2. 子供のころ宇宙のロケットに憧れていた。 When I was a kid, I dreamed of space rockets.
3. ロケットの開発には多くの時間がかかる。 Developing rockets takes a lot of time.

Usage Guide

Context: science, space, technology

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Borrowed from English 'rocket' (spacecraft sense) and 'locket' (jewelry sense). Both entered Japanese through different routes but merged into the same katakana spelling.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal