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B1 verb 7 min de lectura

沸かす

wakasu

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos 沸かす en 30 segundos

Explicación 沸かす in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should learn 'wakasu' as a simple action related to making tea or coffee. You primarily see it as 'o-yu o wakashimasu' (I boil water). It's one of the first verbs you learn for the kitchen. Focus on the connection between water (o-yu) and the verb. Don't worry about the metaphorical meanings yet. Just remember: if you want hot water for tea, you need to use this verb. It's often used in the form 'wakashite kudasai' (please boil).

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At the A2 level, you begin to see the difference between 'wakasu' (to boil something) and 'waku' (something boils). You should be able to use the te-form to combine actions, such as 'O-yu o wakashite, ko-hi- o iremasu' (I boil water and then make coffee). You also learn the specific cultural use for the bath: 'ofuro o wakasu.' At this stage, you should be comfortable conjugating it into the past tense (wakashita) and negative (wakasanai).

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At the B1 level, you should master the transitive/intransitive pair (wakasu/waku) perfectly. You will start encountering the metaphorical use of the word, especially in the context of 'exciting a crowd' (kanshu o wakasu). You should be able to understand and use potential forms like 'wakaseru' (can boil/can excite) and conditional forms like 'wakaseba' (if you boil). You also understand that 'wakasu' is used for water and baths, while 'atatameru' is for other foods.

At the B2 level, you can use 'wakasu' in more complex sentence structures, including passive and causative forms. You understand the nuance of using 'wakasu' versus 'futtou saseru' in different registers (casual vs. formal/technical). You can follow sports commentary where 'wakasu' is used frequently to describe the atmosphere of a game. You are also aware of idiomatic expressions like 'chi o wakasu' (to make one's blood boil with excitement).

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At the C1 level, you have a deep appreciation for the word's versatility. You can use it in literary analysis or high-level business discussions about 'boiling' or 'exciting' a market or an audience. You understand the historical and cultural nuances of 'ofuro o wakasu' and how it reflects Japanese domestic life. You can distinguish between very subtle nuances, such as why a writer might choose 'wakasu' over 'moriageru' (to liven up) to describe a crowd's reaction.

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At the C2 level, you use 'wakasu' with the same nuance as a native speaker. You can employ it in creative writing to evoke specific domestic or emotional atmospheres. You understand its etymological roots and how it relates to other water-related verbs in the Japanese language. You can use it effortlessly in puns or sophisticated metaphors, and you are fully aware of its usage in classical or dialectal variations if they arise in literature.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

沸かす en 30 segundos

Wakasu means to boil water or heat a bath.
It is a transitive verb, meaning someone does the action.
It is also used figuratively to mean 'to excite a crowd'.
Commonly paired with 'o-yu' (hot water) or 'ofuro' (bath).

The Japanese verb 沸かす (wakasu) is a fundamental transitive verb primarily meaning 'to boil' or 'to heat up' a liquid, most commonly water. In the Japanese linguistic landscape, it is categorized as a Godan verb (Type I). While it seems simple at first glance, its application spans from the domestic sphere of the kitchen and bathroom to the metaphorical heights of public excitement and entertainment. To understand 沸かす, one must first distinguish it from its intransitive counterpart, 沸く (waku). While waku describes the state of the water reaching a boil (The water boils), 沸かす describes the action performed by an agent (I boil the water). This distinction is crucial for CEFR B1 learners who are moving beyond basic survival Japanese into more nuanced expression.

The Culinary Context: In the kitchen, 沸かす is used almost exclusively for liquids that are being heated to a boiling point for the purpose of making a beverage or for further cooking. For example, if you are making tea (o-cha) or coffee, you must first o-yu o wakasu (boil the hot water). It is important to note that you do not 'boil' the tea itself usually; you boil the water to pour over the tea.
The Ritual of the Bath: One of the most culturally significant uses of 沸かす is in the phrase ofuro o wakasu. In Japan, the evening bath is a sacred ritual. Unlike Western tubs where you simply turn on a tap, traditional and modern Japanese tubs often involve a reheating system. Therefore, you 'boil' or 'heat up' the bathwater. Even if the water isn't literally reaching 100 degrees Celsius, the verb 沸かす is used to describe the process of preparing the bath to a comfortable, hot temperature.
Metaphorical Excitement: Beyond the physical realm, 沸かす is used to describe an individual or a group (like a crowd) being stirred into a frenzy of excitement. A comedian might kaijo o wakasu (make the venue erupt with laughter/excitement), or a singer might kanshu o wakasu (thrill the audience). This metaphorical 'boiling' of emotions is a common feature in sports commentary and entertainment news.

お茶を淹れるために、まずお湯を沸かしましょう。 (In order to make tea, let's first boil some water.)

彼は素晴らしい演技で観客を沸かした。 (He thrilled the audience with his wonderful performance.)

お風呂を沸かしておいたよ。 (I've heated up the bath for you.)

Using 沸かす (wakasu) correctly involves understanding its conjugation as a Godan verb and its place within the transitive-intransitive verb pairs of Japanese. Because it is a transitive verb (ta-doushi), it typically follows the pattern: [Subject] は [Object] を沸かす. In daily life, the subject is often omitted if it is clear from the context (usually 'I' or 'you').

Conjugation Basics

Polite Present: 沸かします (wakashimasu) - I boil.
Plain Past: 沸かした (wakashita) - I boiled.
Negative: 沸かさない (wakasanai) - I don't boil.
Te-form: 沸かして (wakashite) - Boiling / Please boil.
Potential: 沸かせる (wakaseru) - Can boil.

Common Grammatical Patterns

One common pattern is the use of ~te oku (to do something in advance). For example, O-yu o wakashite oku means 'to boil water in advance' (so it's ready when needed). Another is the causative-passive form in metaphorical contexts, though rare: wakaserareta (was made to be excited).

コーヒーを飲みたいから、ヤカンでお湯を沸かしてくれる？ (I want to drink coffee, so could you boil some water in the kettle?)

キャンプでお湯を沸かすのは時間がかかる。 (Boiling water at a campsite takes time.)

彼はその冗談でクラス全員を沸かした。 (He made the whole class erupt with that joke.)

In formal settings, you might encounter 沸騰させる (futtou saseru), which is the more scientific or technical way to say 'to bring to a boil.' However, in everyday conversation, 沸かす is the standard choice. When you are asking someone to do it, the te-form wakashite is very common in households. 'Ofuro wakashite!' is a classic phrase heard in Japanese homes every evening.

The word 沸かす (wakasu) is ubiquitous in Japanese daily life, appearing in various domains from the domestic to the professional. Its frequency is high because it covers two essential Japanese activities: drinking hot tea and taking hot baths.

In the Home (Katei): You will hear this most often in the kitchen. 'O-yu wakashite' (Boil the water) is a standard request. In the context of the bath, family members will often ask 'Ofuro wakashita?' (Did you start heating the bath?) or 'Ofuro wakashite oite' (Please have the bath heated up). This is a part of the 'home vocabulary' that every learner should master.
At Restaurants and Cafes: In a professional kitchen, while futtou might be used for precision, 沸かす is still common among staff. A chef might tell an assistant to boil more water for noodles or tea. It’s practical and direct.
Entertainment and Sports Media: Listen to a baseball game or a concert broadcast. When the crowd goes wild after a home run or a hit song, the commentator will say 'Statium o wakashite imasu!' (He is making the stadium boil/erupt!). This figurative use is very common in headlines as well: 'Shinjin kashu ga sutagee o wakasu' (New singer thrills the stage).

「お母さん、お風呂沸いた？」「今、沸かしているところよ。」 ('Mom, is the bath ready?' 'I'm heating it up right now.')

In literature and lyrics, 沸かす can also be used for 'boiling blood' (chi o wakasu), signifying intense passion or anger. This is more dramatic and less common in everyday speech but vital for understanding J-Pop lyrics or manga dialogue.

Even for intermediate students, 沸かす (wakasu) can be tricky due to its relationship with other 'heating' verbs and its intransitive twin.

Mistake 1: Confusing Wakasu and Waku: This is the most frequent error. Wakasu is transitive (requires an object), while Waku is intransitive (the subject is the thing boiling).
❌ Wrong: O-yu ga wakashita. (The water boiled - using transitive verb incorrectly).
✅ Right: O-yu o wakashita. (I boiled the water).
✅ Right: O-yu ga waita. (The water boiled).
Mistake 2: Using Wakasu for Food: If you are cooking pasta, you wakasu the water, but you don't 'wakasu' the pasta. For cooking food in boiling water, use yuderu (boil/poach) or niru (simmer/stew).
❌ Wrong: Tamago o wakasu.
✅ Right: Tamago o yuderu. (Boil an egg).
Mistake 3: Overusing it for 'Heating Up': If you are just warming up leftovers in the microwave or heating milk for a latte, use 温める (atatameru). 沸かす implies reaching the boiling point or specifically preparing a Japanese bath.

Japanese has several verbs for heating things. Choosing the right one depends on the substance and the desired temperature.

沸かす (Wakasu) vs. 温める (Atatameru): Wakasu: Specifically for water/bath, bringing to a boil or high heat.
Atatameru: General term for 'to warm up' or 'to heat.' Used for food, rooms, or making something lukewarm. You 'atatameru' a pizza, but you 'wakasu' water.
沸かす (Wakasu) vs. 茹でる (Yuderu): Wakasu: Focuses on the liquid itself.
Yuderu: Focuses on the food being cooked in the liquid (like noodles, eggs, or vegetables). You boil water (wakasu) in order to boil the noodles (yuderu).
沸かす (Wakasu) vs. 煮る (Niru): Niru: To simmer or stew food in a liquid (often seasoned). This is a cooking method, whereas 沸かす is just heating the liquid.
沸騰させる (Futtou saseru): This is the Sino-Japanese (Kango) version. It is more formal and scientific. You see it in recipes: 'Mizu o futtou saseru' (Bring water to a boil).

Comparison:
1. お湯を沸かす (Boil water)
2. スープを温める (Warm up soup)
3. 枝豆を茹でる (Boil edamame)

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

The kanji 沸 originally depicted water bubbling over a fire. It shares a radical with other water-related words. In ancient times, 'waku' and 'wakasu' were also associated with the bubbling of natural hot springs (onsen).

Guía de pronunciación

UK waka-su

US waka-su

The pitch accent is usually on the second syllable 'ka' (Heiban style: wa-KA-SU).

Rima con

Sakasu (to make bloom) Nakasu (to make cry) Takasu (to make high - rare) Makasu (to defeat) Dakasu (to make hold) Akasu (to reveal/spend the night) Tokasu (to melt) Nokasu (to move something aside)

Errores comunes

Pronouncing 'su' too strongly like 'soo'. In Japanese, it's often nearly silent at the end of a word.
Confusing the pitch with 'waku'.
Stressing the first syllable like 'WA-kasu'.
Failing to double the 's' sound in the polite form 'wakashimasu'.
Pronouncing 'wa' like 'way'.

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

The kanji 沸 is N3 level but the verb is common enough to be recognized earlier.

Escritura 3/5

Writing the kanji 沸 requires attention to the water radical and the right-hand strokes.

Expresión oral 2/5

Easy to pronounce, but requires practice to distinguish from 'waku'.

Escucha 2/5

Frequently heard in homes and on TV; easy to pick out.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

お湯 (o-yu) 水 (mizu) 熱い (atsui) 作る (tsukuru) 忘れる (wasureru)

Aprende después

茹でる (yuderu) 蒸す (musu) 炒める (itameru) 揚げる (ageru) 煮る (niru)

Avanzado

沸騰 (futtou) 加熱 (kanetsu) 情緒 (joucho) 昂揚 (kouyou) 扇動 (sendou)

Gramática que debes saber

Transitive vs. Intransitive Verbs

お湯を沸かす (Transitive) vs. お湯が沸く (Intransitive)

Te-form for Requests

お湯を沸かしてください。

Preparation aspect (~te oku)

お風呂を沸かしておきました。

Nominalization with 'no'

お湯を沸かすのを忘れました。

Purpose with 'tame ni'

お茶を飲むためにお湯を沸かす。

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Ejemplos por nivel

お湯を沸かします。

I boil water.

Simple present polite form.

お湯を沸かしてください。

Please boil some water.

Te-form + kudasai (request).

ヤカンでお湯を沸かす。

Boil water in a kettle.

Plain form with instrument particle 'de'.

お風呂を沸かします。

I will heat the bath.

Cultural usage for 'heating a bath'.

お湯を沸かしましたか。

Did you boil the water?

Polite past question.

お湯を沸かさないでください。

Please don't boil the water.

Negative te-form (nai de kudasai).

毎日お湯を沸かす。

I boil water every day.

Habitual action in plain form.

お茶のためにお湯を沸かす。

Boil water for tea.

Purpose phrase 'no tame ni'.

お湯を沸かしてから、コーヒーを入れます。

After boiling water, I'll make coffee.

Te-form + kara (after doing...).

お風呂を沸かしておきました。

I heated the bath in advance.

Te-form + oku (preparatory action).

お湯を沸かしているところです。

I am in the middle of boiling water.

Te-form + iru tokoro (current action).

お湯を沸かすのを忘れました。

I forgot to boil the water.

Nominalizing 'no' + wasureru.

急いでお湯を沸かしてください。

Please boil the water quickly.

Adverbial use of 'isogu'.

お湯が沸いたので、お茶を飲みましょう。

The water has boiled, so let's drink tea.

Contrast with intransitive 'waita'.

誰がお湯を沸かしましたか。

Who boiled the water?

Subject marker 'ga' with question word 'dare'.

お湯を沸かすのは簡単です。

Boiling water is easy.

Nominalizing with 'no wa'.

彼はその歌で会場を沸かした。

He thrilled the venue with that song.

Metaphorical use for exciting a crowd.

お湯を沸かしすぎないように注意して。

Be careful not to boil the water too much.

Verb stem + sugiru (excessive).

お風呂を沸かすボタンはどれですか。

Which one is the button to heat the bath?

Noun modification (wakasu botan).

お湯を沸かせば、すぐにカップ麺が食べられる。

If you boil water, you can eat cup noodles immediately.

Conditional 'ba' form.

お湯を沸かす時間がもったいない。

The time it takes to boil water is a waste.

Noun modification with 'mottainai'.

彼女は面白い話でみんなを沸かせた。

She made everyone erupt with her funny story.

Figurative use for humor/excitement.

ガスでお湯を沸かすのは電気より速いですか。

Is boiling water with gas faster than with electricity?

Comparison structure 'A wa B yori...'

お湯を沸かすときは、火から目を離さないで。

When boiling water, don't take your eyes off the flame.

Time clause 'toki wa'.

そのゴールはスタジアム全体を沸かせた。

That goal made the entire stadium go wild.

Metaphorical use in sports.

お湯を沸かす手間を省くために電気ポットを買った。

I bought an electric pot to save the trouble of boiling water.

Purpose 'tame ni' with 'tema o habuku'.

お風呂を沸かすのを手伝ってくれませんか。

Would you mind helping me heat the bath?

Request with 'tetsudatte kuremasen ka'.

お湯を沸かすだけで作れる料理は便利だ。

Dishes that can be made just by boiling water are convenient.

Limiting particle 'dakede'.

彼のスピーチは聴衆を大いに沸かせた。

His speech greatly excited the audience.

Adverb 'ooi ni' (greatly).

お湯を沸かすとき、蓋をすると早く沸く。

When boiling water, it boils faster if you put a lid on.

Condition 'to' with 'futa o suru'.

お風呂を沸かす習慣は日本独特のものだ。

The habit of heating a bath is unique to Japan.

Noun modification 'shuukan'.

沸かし直したお湯は美味しくないと言う人もいる。

Some people say re-boiled water doesn't taste good.

Compound verb 'wakashi-naosu'.

そのピアニストは超絶技巧で聴衆を沸かせた。

The pianist thrilled the audience with their transcendental technique.

Advanced vocabulary 'chouetsu gikou'.

お風呂を沸かすという行為には、一日の疲れを癒やす意味がある。

The act of heating the bath carries the meaning of healing the day's fatigue.

Abstract noun modification 'to iu koui'.

彼女の勇気ある発言は、国民の血を沸かせた。

Her courageous statement made the nation's blood boil (with passion).

Idiomatic 'chi o wakasu'.

お湯を沸かす際、不純物を取り除くために一度沸騰させる。

When boiling water, bring it to a boil once to remove impurities.

Formal 'sai' (when/upon).

その劇的な逆転劇は、日本中を沸かせた。

That dramatic comeback thrilled the whole of Japan.

Compound 'gyakuten-geki'.

お風呂を沸かすのを忘れて、冷たい水に入ってしまった。

I forgot to heat the bath and ended up getting into cold water.

Regret form 'shimatta'.

彼は巧みな話術で、どんな退屈なパーティーも沸かせることができる。

With his skillful storytelling, he can liven up any boring party.

Potential form 'wakaseru'.

お湯を沸かすという日常的な動作にも、作法がある。

Even in the daily action of boiling water, there are manners/etiquette.

Inclusive particle 'mo'.

古びた茶釜でお湯を沸かす音だけが、静寂の中に響いていた。

Only the sound of water boiling in the old iron kettle echoed in the silence.

Literary description.

その政治家の演説は、民衆の情熱を沸かし、革命の火種となった。

The politician's speech boiled the passions of the masses and became the spark for revolution.

Metaphorical 'passion'.

五右衛門風呂を沸かすのは、現代人には至難の業だ。

Heating a Goemon-buro (iron cauldron bath) is an extremely difficult task for modern people.

Historical reference.

一服の茶を点てるために、心魂を込めてお湯を沸かす。

To whisk a bowl of tea, one boils water with all one's soul.

Spiritual context.

スタジアムを沸かす地鳴りのような歓声が、遠くまで聞こえた。

The rumbling cheers that thrilled the stadium could be heard from afar.

Simile 'jinari no you na'.

お湯を沸かすという単純な物理現象の裏には、複雑な熱力学が隠されている。

Behind the simple physical phenomenon of boiling water, complex thermodynamics are hidden.

Scientific register.

彼はその一言で、凍りついた場の空気を一気に沸かせた。

With that one word, he instantly heated up the frozen atmosphere of the room.

Contrast 'kooritsuita' vs 'wakaseta'.

伝統的な湯治場では、今も薪でお湯を沸かしているところがある。

In traditional hot spring resorts, there are still places where water is heated with firewood.

Cultural preservation.

Colocaciones comunes

お湯を沸かす

お風呂を沸かす

会場を沸かす

観客を沸かす

世間を沸かす

ヤカンでお湯を沸かす

一気に沸かす

茶の湯を沸かす

ファンを沸かす

湯を沸かす

Frases Comunes

お風呂沸いてる？

— Is the bath ready? (Uses intransitive waku, but implies someone wakashita it).

「お風呂沸いてる？」「うん、今さっき沸かしたよ。」

お湯を沸かし直す

— To re-boil water that has cooled down.

冷めたのでお湯を沸かし直します。

沸かして待つ

— To boil (water/bath) and then wait for someone.

お風呂を沸かして待っています。

沸かすのを忘れる

— To forget to boil something.

お湯を沸かすのを忘れてた！

沸かし太郎

— A brand name of a portable bath heater, often used generically for such devices.

沸かし太郎で風呂を沸かす。

スタジアムが沸く

— The stadium goes wild (intransitive version of the figurative use).

ホームランでスタジアムが沸いた。

お湯を沸かす時間

— The time it takes to boil water.

お湯を沸かす時間に本を読む。

沸かし器

— A water heater (short for yu-wakashiki).

ガス沸かし器の調子が悪い。

沸かし湯

— Heated water (as opposed to natural hot spring water).

ここは温泉ではなく沸かし湯です。

沸かしたて

— Freshly boiled.

沸かしたてのお湯でお茶を淹れる。

Se confunde a menudo con

沸かす vs 沸く (waku)

Intransitive version. Use when the water is the subject doing the boiling.

沸かす vs 温める (atatameru)

General heating. Use for food or making things warm but not boiling.

沸かす vs 茹でる (yuderu)

Boiling food in water. Focuses on the food, not the liquid.

Modismos y expresiones

"血を沸かす"

— To make one's blood boil with excitement or intense emotion.

その勇姿は若者たちの血を沸かせた。

Literary/Dramatic

"胸を沸かす"

— To fill one's heart with excitement.

再会の喜びが胸を沸かせた。

Literary

"茶を沸かす"

— Literally to make tea, but sometimes used to imply a relaxed, trivial time.

へそで茶を沸かす (To laugh so hard your belly button boils tea - meaning something is ridiculous).

Idiomatic

"場を沸かす"

— To liven up the place/atmosphere.

彼はいつも面白い話で場を沸かす。

Neutral

"浮き名を沸かす"

— To be the subject of romantic rumors (older expression).

彼女は社交界で浮き名を沸かせた。

Archaic

"熱狂を沸かす"

— To generate enthusiasm.

新製品の発表が熱狂を沸かせた。

Business/Media

"議論を沸かす"

— To spark/heat up a debate.

その法案は議会で議論を沸かせた。

Formal

"人気を沸かす"

— To stir up popularity.

そのアイドルは全国で人気を沸かせている。

Media

"期待を沸かす"

— To raise expectations.

予告編がファンの期待を沸かせた。

Marketing

"歴史を沸かす"

— To make a big impact on history.

その革命は歴史を沸かせた一大事件だった。

Literary

Fácil de confundir

沸かす vs 煮る (niru)

Both involve heating liquids.

'Niru' is for simmering/cooking food in a flavored liquid. 'Wakasu' is for heating the liquid itself.

野菜を煮る (Simmer vegetables) vs お湯を沸かす (Boil water).

沸かす vs 蒸す (musu)

Both involve hot water.

'Musu' is steaming food using the vapor from boiling water.

シュウマイを蒸す。

沸かす vs 炊く (taku)

Both involve water and heat.

'Taku' is specifically for cooking grains like rice.

ご飯を炊く。

沸かす vs 沸騰 (futtou)

Both mean boiling.

'Futtou' is a noun/suru-verb often used in scientific or formal contexts.

水が沸騰する。

沸かす vs 焼く (yaku)

Both are cooking methods.

'Yaku' is grilling, baking, or frying (dry heat).

肉を焼く。

Patrones de oraciones

[Object] を沸かします。

お湯を沸かします。

[Object] を沸かして [Action]。

お湯を沸かしてコーヒーを飲みます。

[Object] を沸かしておきます。

お風呂を沸かしておきます。

[Subject] は [Crowd] を沸かせた。

彼は観客を沸かせた。

[Object] を沸かす際に...

お湯を沸かす際に注意すること。

[Abstract] を沸かす。

国民の血を沸かす。

[Object] を沸かしすぎる。

お湯を沸かしすぎた。

[Object] を沸かさないで。

お湯を沸かさないで。

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

沸騰 (futtou) - boiling

湯沸かし (yu-wakashi) - boiling water/kettle

沸点 (futten) - boiling point

Verbos

沸く (waku) - to boil (intransitive)

沸き上がる (waki-agaru) - to boil up/surge

沸かし直す (wakashi-naosu) - to re-boil

Relacionado

お湯 (o-yu) - hot water

ヤカン (yakan) - kettle

お風呂 (ofuro) - bath

興奮 (koufun) - excitement

熱い (atsui) - hot

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Extremely frequent in daily life and media.

Errores comunes

お湯が沸かした。 → お湯が沸いた。
You used the transitive verb 'wakashita' with the subject particle 'ga'. If the water is the subject, use the intransitive 'waita'.
卵を沸かしてください。 → 卵を茹でてください。
You don't 'wakasu' (boil liquid) an egg; you 'yuderu' (boil food) it.
スープを沸かします。 → スープを温めます。
While not strictly wrong, 'atatameru' is more natural for soup unless you are specifically bringing it to a hard boil.
お湯を沸く。 → お湯を沸かす。
The particle 'o' indicates a transitive action, so you must use 'wakasu'.
会場が沸かした。 → 会場が沸いた。
Similar to the water example, if the venue is the subject that erupted in excitement, use 'waita'. If a performer did it, use 'performaa ga kaijou o wakashita'.

Consejos

Transitive vs Intransitive

Always check if you are the one doing the boiling (wakasu) or if the water is doing it (waku). This is a common test point in JLPT.

Pair with O-yu

Memorize 'o-yu o wakasu' as a single block. It's the most common pairing you'll ever use.

Bath Etiquette

In Japan, saying 'ofuro o wakashimashita' is a kind way to tell someone they can take a bath now.

Metaphorical Use

Don't be afraid to use 'wakasu' for exciting things! It makes your Japanese sound much more expressive and natural.

Kanji Practice

The kanji 沸 has 8 strokes. Practice the right side carefully; it's not the same as the one in 'mizu'.

TV Commentary

Watch Japanese variety shows. When the audience claps and cheers, the host often says 'Wakasete kuremasu ne!' (They really thrill us, don't they!).

Not for Food

Remember: you boil water (wakasu) but you boil an egg (yuderu). Don't mix them up!

Waka-Waka

Think of Shakira's 'Waka Waka' song. It 'wakasu' (excites) the whole world!

Scientific Context

In a lab or formal recipe, use 'futtou saseru' instead of 'wakasu' for a more professional tone.

Morning Routine

Incorporate 'o-yu o wakasu' into your daily Japanese practice when you make your morning coffee.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of a 'WOK' (sounds like 'waka'). You put water in the WOK to boil it. 'Wakasu' is you doing the action with the wok.

Asociación visual

Imagine a person standing over a steaming kettle (wakasu) versus a kettle just sitting there whistling (waku).

Word Web

Water Heat Bath Tea Crowd Excitement Kettle Boil

Desafío

Try to say 'O-yu o wakashite, ofuro o wakashita' three times fast without mixing up the transitive and intransitive forms.

Origen de la palabra

The word 'wakasu' comes from the Old Japanese verb 'waku' (to boil/spring forth), which is related to the noun 'waku' (a spring or source of water). The transitive 'su' suffix was added to indicate agency.

Significado original: To cause water to spring up or bubble up through heat.

Japonic

Contexto cultural

Be careful when using 'wakasu' with people as the object (e.g., 'hito o wakasu'). It's fine for a crowd or audience, but using it for an individual might sound like you are literally boiling them unless the context of excitement is extremely clear.

In English, we 'boil' water but 'run' a bath. Japanese uses 'boil' (wakasu) for both, which can be confusing for English speakers who associate boiling with 100°C.

The movie 'Yu o Wakasu Hodo no Atsui Ai' (Her Love Boils Bathwater) uses the word to symbolize intense maternal love. Sports headlines often use 'Nippon o Wakasu' (Exciting Japan) during the Olympics. Traditional rakugo stories often feature scenes of characters 'wakasu'ing tea while gossiping.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Kitchen / Cooking

お湯を沸かす
ヤカンで沸かす
沸騰するまで待つ
お湯を沸かし直す

Bathroom / Home

お風呂を沸かす
お風呂を沸かしておく
お風呂が沸いた
自動で沸かす

Sports / Concerts

観客を沸かす
会場を沸かす
スタジアムを沸かす
ファンを沸かせる

Camping / Outdoors

焚き火でお湯を沸かす
バーナーで沸かす
川の水を沸かす
コーヒー用にお湯を沸かす

Traditional Culture

茶の湯を沸かす
釜でお湯を沸かす
炭でお湯を沸かす
お湯を沸かす作法

Inicios de conversación

"お湯を沸かしましょうか？ (Shall I boil some water?)"

"お風呂はもう沸かしましたか？ (Have you already heated the bath?)"

"昨日の試合、あのゴールで会場が沸きましたね！ (In yesterday's game, that goal really made the stadium erupt, didn't it?)"

"コーヒーを淹れるのに、どれくらいお湯を沸かしますか？ (How much water do you boil to make coffee?)"

"冬に一番お湯を沸かすのはいつですか？ (When do you boil water the most in winter?)"

Temas para diario

今日、お湯を沸かして何を飲みましたか？ (What did you drink today after boiling water?)

あなたが最近「会場を沸かせた」ような出来事はありますか？ (Is there an event recently where you 'thrilled the crowd'?)

日本の「お風呂を沸かす」文化についてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about the Japanese culture of 'heating the bath'?)

お湯を沸かす時間をどのように過ごしますか？ (How do you spend the time while boiling water?)

誰かのために一生懸命お湯を沸かした思い出はありますか？ (Do you have a memory of boiling water earnestly for someone?)

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

Technically yes, but it sounds like you are boiling it vigorously. It's much more common to use 'atatameru' (warm up) for milk to avoid burning it or creating a skin on top.

Both are used, but 'o-yu o wakasu' is more common because you are heating water to *become* hot water (o-yu). 'Mizu o wakasu' emphasizes the starting state of the water.

Use the intransitive: 'O-yu ga waite imasu' or 'O-yu ga waita'.

'Ofuro o wakasu' means to heat the water already in the tub. 'Ofuro o ireru' means to fill the tub with water. In modern homes, the same button often does both.

Yes, 'hara o wakasu' (rare) or 'chi o wakasu' can imply intense anger or passion, but 'atatameru' is not used this way.

Yes, it is a transitive Godan verb (Type I). It requires an object marked by 'o'.

Yes, 'pa-ti- o wakasu' means to liven up the party and make everyone excited.

The te-form is 'wakashite'.

It is written as 沸かす.

Yes, 'o-yu o wakasu' is a central part of the tea ceremony (chado).

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