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B1 noun Neutre #8,800 le plus courant 3 min de lecture

湯気

/jɯɡe/
Entraîne-toi

Overview

The Japanese word '湯気' (ゆげ, yuge) refers to 'steam' or 'vapor,' specifically the visible cloud formed by water vapor condensing in the air. It's often associated with hot water, baths, cooking, and other situations where water is heated and evaporates.

Etymology and Composition:

TheThe word '湯気' is composed of two kanji characters:

  • 湯 (yu): This character primarily means 'hot water' or 'bath.' It can also refer to a public bathhouse. In this context, it clearly indicates the source or nature of the vapor.
  • 気 (ki/ke): This character is multifaceted and can mean 'spirit,' 'energy,' 'air,' 'atmosphere,' or 'feeling.' In '湯気,' it signifies 'vapor' or 'gas,' indicating the airy, gaseous nature of the steam.

Together, '湯気' literally translates to 'hot water vapor' or 'hot water air,' accurately describing its meaning.

Common Usages and Contexts:

'湯気' is used in various everyday situations:

  1. 1Baths (お風呂, ofuro): When taking a hot bath, the bathroom often fills with '湯気.' People might comment on the amount of steam, saying '湯気がすごい' (yuge ga sugoi - 'The steam is amazing/a lot') or '湯気で何も見えない' (yuge de nani mo mienai - 'I can't see anything because of the steam').
  1. 1Cooking: Steam rising from a pot of boiling water, a bowl of hot soup, or freshly cooked rice is referred to as '湯気.' For example, 'ご飯から湯気が立っている' (gohan kara yuge ga tatte iru - 'Steam is rising from the rice').
  1. 1Hot Drinks: The vapor coming off a hot cup of tea or coffee is also '湯気.' 'お茶の湯気' (ocha no yuge - 'steam from the tea').
  1. 1Onsen (温泉): Hot springs are famous for their abundant '湯気,' which creates a distinctive, often mystical atmosphere, especially in cooler weather. The sight of steam rising from an onsen is iconic.
  1. 1General Observation: You can also use it to describe steam rising from the ground after rain on a warm day, or from hot asphalt.

Connotations and Imagery:

'湯気' often evokes feelings of warmth, comfort, and freshness. The image of steam rising can be quite picturesque and is frequently used in literature and art to convey a sense of coziness, the beginning of a meal, or the relaxing atmosphere of a bath. It can also suggest something being very hot or freshly prepared.

Grammar and Phrases:

  • 湯気が立つ (yuge ga tatsu): 'Steam rises.' (e.g., 鍋から湯気が立つ - Nabe kara yuge ga tatsu - 'Steam rises from the pot.')
  • 湯気に包まれる (yuge ni tsutsumareru): 'To be enveloped in steam.' (e.g., 湯気に包まれたお風呂 - Yuge ni tsutsumareta ofuro - 'A bath enveloped in steam.')
  • 湯気だらけ (yuge darake): 'Full of steam,' 'steamy.' (e.g., 湯気だらけの浴室 - Yuge darake no yokushitsu - 'A steamy bathroom.')

While '蒸気' (jōki) is another word for steam, particularly in a scientific or industrial context (like steam engines or water vapor as a gas), '湯気' is more commonly used for the visible, everyday steam produced by hot water or food. '湯気' emphasizes the visual aspect of the vapor and its connection to warmth and domestic scenes.

Exemples

1

お風呂の湯気で、鏡が曇って何も見えない。

Describes a common situation where steam fogs up a mirror.

The mirror is fogged up from the steam from the bath, so I can't see anything.

2

熱いラーメンから湯気が立ち上る。

Describes the visual of steam coming off hot food.

Steam rises from the hot ramen.

3

冬の寒い朝、吐く息が白く湯気になる。

Describes breath becoming visible in cold weather.

On a cold winter morning, the breath I exhale turns into white steam.

4

湯気でレンズが曇ってしまった。

Relates to eyeglasses or camera lenses getting obscured by steam.

My lenses got fogged up by the steam.

5

湯気が立ち込める中、温泉に浸かる。

Evokes the atmosphere of a hot spring with abundant steam.

I soak in the hot spring amidst the rising steam.

Collocations courantes

湯気を立てる (yuge o tateru - to steam up)
湯気が上がる (yuge ga agaru - steam rises)
湯気が出る (yuge ga deru - steam comes out)
湯気に包まれる (yuge ni tsutsumareru - to be enveloped in steam)

Souvent confondu avec

湯気 vs 水蒸気
湯気 refers to visible steam, like from a hot bath or a cooking pot, while 水蒸気 (suijōki) refers to invisible water vapor, often in a scientific or meteorological context.
湯気 vs 蒸気
蒸気 (jōki) is a more general term for steam or vapor, often used in technical contexts like 'steam engine' (蒸気機関 - jōki kikan). 湯気 specifically implies the visible white mist.

Modèles grammaticaux

湯気が出る (yuge ga deru) - steam comes out / steam rises 湯気が立つ (yuge ga tatsu) - steam rises / steam stands (implies a more prominent or noticeable rising of steam) 湯気に包まれる (yuge ni tsutsumareru) - to be enveloped in steam

Comment l'utiliser

Notes d'usage

When using 'yuge' (湯気) in Japanese, it's generally a straightforward term referring to steam or vapor. It can be used in a variety of contexts, from describing the steam rising from a hot drink like coffee ('kōhī no yuge') to the steam from a hot bath ('ofuro no yuge'). The word itself carries a neutral to slightly positive connotation, often associated with warmth, freshness, or a natural phenomenon. For instance, 'yuge ga tatsu' (湯気が立つ) means 'steam rises,' and is a common way to describe this phenomenon. If you want to emphasize the thickness or abundance of steam, you might add adjectives like 'mojamoja' (もじゃもじゃ) for a hazy, thick steam, or 'mokumoku' (もくもく) for billowing steam, though these are more descriptive adverbs. When referring to steam for cooking, especially for steaming food, you might also encounter terms like 'musiki' (蒸し器) for a steamer or 'mushiatsui' (蒸し暑い) for humid and hot, but 'yuge' specifically refers to the visible vapor. It's important to remember that 'yuge' is generally for visible steam, not just any gas or vapor.

Erreurs courantes

Some learners might confuse 湯気 (yuge) with 蒸気 (jouki), which also means steam but often refers to steam in a more scientific or industrial context (e.g., steam engine). 湯気 is typically used for steam rising from food, baths, or natural hot springs, emphasizing the visible vapor. Another potential mistake is mispronouncing it; ensuring the 'ge' is pronounced clearly and not like 'ke' can be helpful.

Astuces

💡

Use with verbs describing rising or emitting.

湯気 (yuge) is commonly used with verbs that express the action of steam rising or being emitted. For example, 湯気が立つ (yuge ga tatsu) means 'steam rises', and 湯気が上がる (yuge ga agaru) also means 'steam rises'. You can also use verbs like 湯気が出る (yuge ga deru) for 'steam comes out' or 湯気を出す (yuge o dasu) for 'to emit steam'. This helps to create a natural and accurate description of the presence of steam.
💡

Distinguish from other 'steam' words.

While 湯気 (yuge) specifically refers to visible steam, often from hot water or food, there are other words for 'steam' in Japanese. For instance, 蒸気 (jōki) generally refers to steam in a more scientific or industrial context (e.g., steam engine, water vapor). Make sure to choose the correct word based on the nuance you want to convey. If you're talking about the steam from a hot cup of tea, 湯気 is the appropriate choice.
💡

Commonly used in descriptions of food and baths.

湯気 (yuge) is frequently encountered when describing hot food or drinks, such as '湯気が立っているラーメン' (yuge ga tatteiru rāmen - ramen with steam rising). It's also very common in the context of baths, like 'お風呂の湯気' (ofuro no yuge - bath steam). Understanding these common contexts will help you use 湯気 more naturally and effectively in your conversations and writing.

Origine du mot

From Old Japanese, appearing in texts from the Nara period. Originally referred to hot air or mist. The '湯' (yu) means hot water and '気' (ke) means air or spirit. Over time, it specifically came to mean steam, especially rising from hot water or food.

Contexte culturel

Yuge (湯気), or steam, holds various cultural connotations in Japan. In traditional Japanese cuisine, the rising steam from a freshly prepared meal, such as a bowl of ramen or a hot pot (nabe), is often associated with warmth, comfort, and the act of sharing food. It evokes a sense of homeliness and nourishment. Beyond food, yuge can be observed in the natural environment, particularly in Japan's many onsen (hot springs). The steam rising from these thermal waters is an integral part of the onsen experience, contributing to the relaxing and healing atmosphere. It symbolizes purity and a connection to nature. In art and literature, yuge can be used to depict fleeting moments, the ethereal, or a sense of transition. It can also represent the hidden or unseen, as steam often obscures what lies beneath. The visual of steam is deeply embedded in Japanese aesthetics, often appearing in ukiyo-e prints and haiku poetry to evoke specific seasonal feelings or moments of tranquility.

Astuce mémo

Visualize a hot spring (温泉 - onsen) with steam (湯気 - yuge) rising from it. The character 湯 (yu) means hot water, and 気 (ki) means spirit or air, so together they form 'steam from hot water.'

Questions fréquentes

4 questions
'湯気' (yuge) in Japanese primarily refers to 'steam,' particularly the visible vapor that rises from hot water, food, or other heated objects. It evokes a sense of warmth, often associated with cooking, hot springs, or a cozy atmosphere. The kanji '湯' means 'hot water' or 'bath,' and '気' means 'spirit,' 'air,' or 'energy,' so together they literally translate to 'hot water air' or 'steam from hot water,' vividly describing the phenomenon. It's a common word used in daily life to describe this natural occurrence.
While '湯気' literally means steam, its usage is quite straightforward and not extensively metaphorical in the way some other Japanese words might be. However, it can subtly convey a sense of 'liveliness' or 'freshness' when talking about newly cooked food, where the rising steam indicates it's hot and ready to eat. It can also be used to describe the steam coming from a hot bath, suggesting relaxation and warmth. It's generally tied to the physical phenomenon of vapor but can imply the associated feelings or states.
Yes, there are several common phrases. For example, '湯気が立つ' (yuge ga tatsu) means 'steam rises,' often used to describe hot food or drinks. '湯気が出る' (yuge ga deru) also means 'steam comes out.' You might hear phrases like '湯気の立つラーメン' (yuge no tatsu ramen), referring to a steaming bowl of ramen, or '湯気で曇る' (yuge de kumoru), meaning 'to fog up with steam,' often used for windows or mirrors in a humid environment like a bathroom. These phrases highlight the visual and sensory aspects of steam.
'湯気' holds a strong cultural association with warmth, comfort, and domesticity in Japan. It's intimately linked with daily rituals such as bathing (especially in onsen, hot springs), cooking, and enjoying hot beverages. The sight of steam often evokes feelings of relaxation and well-being. In traditional Japanese art and literature, rising steam can symbolize the transient nature of things or add a serene, atmospheric quality to a scene. It's a subtle but powerful visual cue for coziness and the simple pleasures of life.

Teste-toi

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お風呂から___が出ている。

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
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温かい料理から___が立ち上る。

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :
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熱いコーヒーから___が出ている。

Correct ! Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte :

Score : /3

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