Meaning and Usage
"バッテリー" is a loanword from English meaning "battery." It refers to the power source in electronic devices, vehicles, and other equipment. It is commonly used in everyday conversation when talking about smartphones, laptops, cars, and other battery-powered items.
Common Collocations
- バッテリーが切れる: battery runs out (used when the device loses power)
- バッテリーを交換する: to replace the battery (used when the battery is dead or weak)
- バッテリーの持ちがいい／悪い: battery life is good/bad (used to describe how long the battery lasts)
Register and Nuance
This word is informal to neutral and widely understood. It is used in both casual and formal contexts without change. Because it is a loanword, it is written in katakana.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse バッテリー with 電池 (でんち), which also means battery but usually refers to smaller, disposable batteries like AA or AAA. バッテリー often refers to rechargeable or larger batteries, such as those in cars or electronic devices.
Practical Tips
When talking about devices, mentioning バッテリー helps specify the power source. For example, "バッテリーがなくなった" clearly means the device ran out of charge, not just that it turned off for another reason.