Meaning and Usage
The verb 点く (つく) primarily means "to be lit," "to be switched on," or "to catch fire." It is often used to describe lights, flames, or electrical devices starting to emit light or becoming active.
Common Contexts
- Lights turning on: 電気が点く
- Fire catching or igniting: 火が点く
- Screens or indicators lighting up when devices are powered on
Collocations and Patterns
- 電気が点く: a light turns on
- 火が点く: a fire catches
- スイッチを入れると点く: turns on when the switch is flipped
Register and Nuance
点く is a neutral, common verb used in everyday conversation and writing. It is intransitive, so the subject is the thing that lights or ignites itself.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 点く (intransitive) with 点ける (つける, transitive), which means "to turn on" or "to light" something. Remember 点く describes something turning on by itself, while 点ける is used when you actively turn something on.