コンデンサ

Japanese

コンデンサ (kondensa): various electronic capacitors.

Alternative forms

• コンデンサー

Etymology

Borrowed from English condenser.

Originally spelled コンデンサー (kondensā). As with other imported words ending in long "ā", the final vowel has shortened in more common usage, resulting in the current spelling.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) コンデ​ンサ [kòńdéꜜǹsà] (Nakadaka – [3])
• IPA^(key): [kõ̞ndẽ̞ɰ̃sa̠]

• (Osaka) コンデ​ンサ

Noun

コンデンサ • (kondensa) 

1. (electronics) a capacitor

   Though called capacitors in modern English, these electronic devices were originally called condensers from as far back as 1782. The Japanese term is based on this older terminology.

2. (optics) an optical condenser, such as a lens or mirror
3. (mechanics, physics) a condenser, a device or unit used to condense vapor into liquid

Usage notes

Japanese has also borrowed the modern English term capacitor for the electronic component, as キャパシタ (kyapashita). However, the term コンデンサ (kondensa) is used much more commonly.

Synonyms

• (electronics): 蓄電器(ちくでんき) (chikudenki)
• (electronics): キャパシタ (kyapashita) (rare)
• (optics): 集光器(しゅうこうき) (shūkōki)
• (physics): 復水器(ふくすいき) (fukusuiki)
• (physics): 凝縮器(ぎょうしゅくき) (gyōshukuki)