熱い em 30 segundos
- 熱い (atsui) means 'hot to the touch' for objects like food or water.
- It is also used for 'passionate' people or 'exciting' situations.
- Never use 熱い for weather; use 暑い (atsui) instead.
- Common examples: 熱いお茶 (hot tea), 熱い情熱 (hot passion).
The Japanese word 熱い (atsui) is a fundamental i-adjective primarily used to describe the high temperature of physical objects that one can touch or perceive through direct contact. Unlike its homophones, this specific kanji 熱 (heat/fever) anchors the meaning in the realm of kinetic energy and thermal intensity. When you hold a cup of tea and feel the steam rising against your palms, or when you accidentally touch a radiator in the winter, the sensation you are experiencing is atsui. It is the raw, tactile perception of heat that distinguishes it from atmospheric heat. In a broader, more metaphorical sense, 熱い extends to human emotions, describing a person who is passionate, a soul that is 'on fire,' or a situation that is reaching a fever pitch of excitement. This duality between the physical and the emotional makes it one of the most versatile adjectives in the Japanese lexicon.
- Physical Temperature
- Refers to liquids, solids, or surfaces that have a high degree of heat. Examples include soup, coffee, a hot bath, or a frying pan.
- Emotional Intensity
- Describes a person's passion, a 'hot' performance, or a heated debate where emotions are running high.
- State of Matter
- Often used to describe things that are literally glowing or emitting heat, such as molten metal or a burning coal.
このお茶はとても熱いので、気をつけて飲んでください。(This tea is very hot, so please be careful when drinking it.)
彼は仕事に対していつも熱い情熱を持っている。(He always has a burning passion for his work.)
お風呂が熱すぎて入れない。(The bath is too hot to get into.)
二人の仲は今、とても熱い。(The relationship between the two is very 'hot' [passionate] right now.)
鉄が熱いうちに打て。(Strike while the iron is hot.)
Using 熱い (atsui) correctly requires an understanding of both its grammatical function as an i-adjective and its semantic boundaries. Grammatically, it follows the standard patterns for i-adjectives: it can directly precede a noun (熱いお茶 - hot tea), or it can act as a predicate (お茶が熱い - the tea is hot). When conjugating, the final 'i' changes: 熱くない (not hot), 熱かった (was hot), and 熱くなかった (was not hot). For emphasis, you can use the adverbial form 熱く followed by verbs like する (to make hot) or なる (to become hot).
The most critical usage note for learners is the distinction between 熱い and 暑い. While both are pronounced 'atsui,' they are never interchangeable in writing. If you are describing the sun, the summer air, or the temperature of a room, you must use 暑い. If you are describing coffee, a pizza, a laptop that's overheating, or a person's forehead during a fever, you must use 熱い. Furthermore, when describing a person's personality as 'hot-blooded' or 'passionate,' 熱い is the correct choice, often paired with nouns like 情熱 (jounetsu - passion) or 想い (omoi - feelings).
- Adverbial Form
- Use 'atsuku' to modify verbs. Example: スープを熱くする (Make the soup hot).
- Compound Verbs
- It can be combined with 'sugiru' (to exceed). Example: 熱すぎる (Too hot).
- Nouns
- The noun form is 'atsusa' (heat), though 'netsu' is more common for fever or physical heat energy.
In social contexts, calling someone a 熱い人 (atsui hito) is usually a compliment, implying they are dedicated and energetic. However, in some modern slang, it can occasionally imply someone is 'too much' or overly intense to the point of being slightly annoying, depending on the tone of voice and the situation. In the world of sports, a 熱い戦い (atsui tatakai) refers to a 'heated battle' or a very close, exciting match that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
You will encounter 熱い in a vast array of daily situations in Japan. One of the most common places is the dining table. Whether at home or in a restaurant, a server will often warn you: 「お皿が熱くなっておりますので、お気をつけください」 (The plate is hot, so please be careful). When drinking miso soup or ramen, people will comment on the temperature to express satisfaction or to explain why they are waiting to eat. In the kitchen, recipes will instruct you to 「熱いうちに召し上がってください」 (Eat while it's hot) to ensure the best flavor and texture.
Beyond the kitchen, the bathroom is another primary location. Japanese bathing culture revolves around the お風呂 (ofuro). Family members might ask each other, 「お湯、熱くない？」 (Is the water not [too] hot?), or comment 「ちょうどいい熱さだ」 (It's just the right heat). In a public sento or onsen, you might see signs warning of high water temperatures. In a medical context, if someone has a fever, they might say 「体が熱い」 (My body feels hot/feverish), which is a common way to describe the onset of illness before actually taking a temperature with a thermometer.
In the media, especially sports broadcasting and shonen anime, 熱い is a keyword. Commentators use it to describe a 'hot' game or a 'heated' rivalry. Anime protagonists are often described as 熱いキャラクター (passionate characters) who give 'hot' speeches about friendship and perseverance. In the business world, a 'hot' topic or a 'hot' market is referred to using this adjective to signify relevance and high activity. Even in romance, a 'hot' gaze (熱い視線) or a 'hot' kiss (熱い口づけ) are standard literary expressions found in novels and song lyrics.
The most frequent mistake for Japanese learners is the confusion between the three 'atsui' adjectives: 熱い (hot to touch), 暑い (hot weather), and 厚い (thick). While they sound identical, their kanji and usage are strictly separated. Writing 今日は熱いですね to mean 'It's hot today' is a common kanji error; it should be 暑い. Conversely, saying このコーヒーは暑い is a spoken error, as coffee cannot be 'weather-hot.'
Another subtle mistake involves the distinction between 熱い and 辛い (karai). In English, we use 'hot' for both temperature and spiciness. In Japanese, this is never the case. If a curry is spicy, it is karai. If the curry is literally burning your tongue because it just came off the stove, it is atsui. Using atsui to mean 'spicy' will confuse Japanese speakers, who might think you are complaining about the physical temperature of the food rather than the chili content.
There is also a common confusion between 熱い and 温かい (atatakai). Atatakai means 'warm' and usually carries a positive, comfortable connotation (like a warm blanket or a warm heart). Atsui is more intense and can sometimes be uncomfortable or dangerous. If you describe a cup of tea as atatakai, you are saying it's at a pleasant drinking temperature. If you call it atsui, you are warning that it might burn. Misusing these can lead to social awkwardness, such as calling a person's kind gesture 'hot' (atsui) instead of 'warm' (atatakai), which changes the meaning from 'kind-hearted' to 'intense/passionate.'
To truly master 熱い, one must understand its relationship with other temperature-related words. The most direct relative is 温かい (atatakai), which covers the 'warm' spectrum. While atsui is often used for things that are high-energy or potentially painful, atatakai is for things that provide comfort. Interestingly, atatakai also has a weather counterpart (暖かい), mirroring the atsui/atsui split. Another related word is 激しい (hageshii), meaning 'intense' or 'violent.' While not a temperature word, it is often used as a synonym for atsui when describing emotions or battles.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have 冷たい (tsumetai) and 寒い (samui). Just like the 'hot' pair, tsumetai is for objects (cold water, cold heart) and samui is for weather. A unique word to know is ぬるい (nurui), which means 'lukewarm.' This is often used negatively, such as when beer that should be cold or soup that should be hot has reached room temperature. It can also describe a 'half-hearted' attitude, providing a contrast to the 'passionate' (atsui) attitude.
In terms of emotional heat, 情熱的 (jounetsuteki) is a more formal, na-adjective version of the passionate side of atsui. While you might call a friend atsui in casual conversation, you would use jounetsuteki in a professional biography or a formal speech. Similarly, 沸騰する (futtou suru) means 'to boil.' It is used literally for water, but also metaphorically for 'boiling' anger or a 'boiling' (extremely popular) topic, which is a step up in intensity from atsui.
How Formal Is It?
Nível de dificuldade
Gramática essencial
i-adjective conjugation
Adverbial form (~ku)
~sugiru (too much)
~node (because)
~uchi ni (while)
Exemplos por nível
このお茶は熱いです。
This tea is hot.
Simple predicate usage: [Noun] + wa + [Adjective] + desu.
熱いコーヒーを飲みます。
I drink hot coffee.
Attributive usage: [Adjective] + [Noun].
スープは熱くないです。
The soup is not hot.
Negative form: i -> kunai.
お風呂は熱いですか？
Is the bath hot?
Question form with 'ka'.
あ、熱い！
Ah, hot!
Exclamatory use of the dictionary form.
これは熱い水です。
This is hot water.
Basic demonstrative 'kore'.
ピザが熱いです。
The pizza is hot.
Subject marker 'ga' used for new information.
熱いお茶をください。
Please give me some hot tea.
Polite request form 'kudasai'.
熱いので、気をつけてください。
It's hot, so please be careful.
Using 'node' to show reason/cause.
昨日のスープはとても熱かったです。
Yesterday's soup was very hot.
Past tense: i -> katta.
もっと熱いお湯がいいです。
I would like hotter water.
Comparative 'motto' (more).
熱いお風呂に入りました。
I took a hot bath.
Standard past tense verb 'hairimashita'.
このパンはまだ熱いですよ。
This bread is still hot, you know.
Particle 'yo' for providing new information.
熱いお茶と冷たいお茶、どちらがいいですか？
Which do you prefer, hot tea or cold tea?
Comparison structure 'A to B, dochira...'.
手が熱くなりました。
My hands became hot.
Adverbial form 'atsuku' + 'narimashita'.
あまり熱くないコーヒーをください。
Please give me coffee that isn't too hot.
'Amari' + negative adjective (not very...).
彼はとても熱い心の持ち主だ。
He is a person with a very passionate heart.
Metaphorical use for personality.
試合は熱い展開になった。
The match became a heated development (exciting).
Describing the intensity of a situation.
熱いうちに食べてしまいましょう。
Let's eat it while it's still hot.
'Uchi ni' meaning 'while' or 'before the state changes'.
先生は将来について熱く語った。
The teacher spoke passionately about the future.
Adverbial 'atsuku' modifying the verb 'kataru'.
二人の熱い友情に感動した。
I was moved by the passionate friendship between the two.
Using 'atsui' to describe abstract bonds.
この夏、一番熱い映画はこれだ！
This is the 'hottest' (most popular/exciting) movie this summer!
Superlative 'ichiban' + 'atsui'.
彼は熱いお風呂が大好きだ。
He loves hot baths.
Compound sentence with 'daisuki'.
熱すぎるのは苦手です。
I'm not good with things that are too hot.
Verb stem/Adjective base + 'sugiru' (too much).
鉄は熱いうちに打てという諺がある。
There is a proverb that says 'Strike while the iron is hot.'
Quoting a proverb with 'to iu'.
ファンの熱い期待に応える。
To meet the fervent expectations of the fans.
Using 'atsui' for expectations/hopes.
議論が熱を帯びてきた。
The discussion has started to get heated.
Idiom 'netsu o obiru' (to take on heat/intensity).
彼女の熱い視線を感じた。
I felt her intense (hot) gaze.
Describing the intensity of a look.
熱い戦いが繰り広げられた。
A heated battle was unfolded.
Passive voice 'kurihirogerareta'.
彼は仕事に対して非常に熱い男だ。
He is an extremely passionate man regarding his work.
Formal adverb 'hijou ni' (extremely).
スープを熱くしすぎないでください。
Please don't make the soup too hot.
Adverbial 'atsuku' + 'suru' (to make) + 'sugiru' (too much).
熱い涙が頬を伝った。
Hot tears ran down my cheeks.
Literary expression for emotional crying.
その政治家は、熱い弁舌で聴衆を魅了した。
The politician captivated the audience with his passionate eloquence.
High-level vocabulary 'benzetsu' (eloquence).
新商品の市場は、今まさに熱い局面を迎えている。
The market for the new product is currently facing a 'hot' (critical/intense) phase.
Business context usage.
彼の胸には、復讐という熱い思いが秘められていた。
Within his chest, a burning desire for revenge was hidden.
Literary 'omoi' (feelings/thoughts).
熱い戦火をくぐり抜けてきた兵士たち。
Soldiers who have come through the hot fires of war.
Metaphorical use for war/combat.
伝統を守ろうとする熱い意志を感じる。
I feel a fervent will to protect tradition.
Abstract noun 'ishi' (will).
この論文は、学界に熱い議論を巻き起こした。
This paper sparked a heated debate in the academic world.
Collocation 'giron o makiokosu'.
情熱が熱くほとばしるような演奏だった。
It was a performance where passion seemed to gush out hotly.
Vivid verb 'hotobashiru' (to gush/spurt).
熱い砂漠の太陽が照りつける。
The hot desert sun beats down.
Note: Here 'atsui' describes the sun as an object emitting heat.
万感の思いが熱く胸に迫る。
A flood of emotions presses hotly against my chest.
Archaic/Literary 'bankan no omoi'.
熱い鉄塊が冷え固まるまでの刹那。
The brief moment until the hot iron mass cools and solidifies.
Technical/Literary 'tekka' and 'setsuna'.
魂の底から湧き上がる熱い衝動を抑えきれない。
I cannot suppress the hot impulse welling up from the bottom of my soul.
Deep psychological description.
その詩には、生命の熱い鼓動が脈打っている。
In that poem, the hot pulse of life is throbbing.
Metaphorical 'kodou' (heartbeat).
熱い期待を背負い、彼はマウンドに立った。
Carrying fervent expectations on his back, he stood on the mound.
Idiomatic 'seou' (to carry on back).
彼の言動には、時代を動かそうとする熱いマグマのような力が宿っている。
His words and actions harbor a force like hot magma trying to move the era.
Complex simile.
熱い血潮が体を駆け巡るのを感じた。
I felt the hot blood (chishio) racing through my body.
Literary word 'chishio' for blood.
熱い抱擁を交わし、二人は別れた。
Exchanging a passionate embrace, the two parted ways.
Formal/Literary 'houyou' (embrace).
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
Frequentemente confundido com
Used for weather/climate only.
Used for thickness (like a book or a slice of bread).
Used for pleasant warmth, not intense heat.
Expressões idiomáticas
Fácil de confundir
Padrões de frases
[Noun] が 熱い
熱い [Noun]
熱いうちに [Verb]
熱く [Verb]
熱すぎる
熱くない
熱かった
熱くなる
Como usar
Refers to passion or intensity.
Distinguish from 暑い (weather) and 厚い (thick).
Refers to physical temperature of objects.
- Using 熱い for weather (should be 暑い).
- Using 熱い for spicy food (should be 辛い).
- Using 熱い for thickness (should be 厚い).
- Saying 'atsui deshita' instead of 'atsukatta desu'.
- Using 'atsui' for a person's physical beauty.
Dicas
I-Adjective Rule
Remember that the 'i' at the end changes for negatives and past tense. Never add 'deshita' to the dictionary form.
Fire at the Bottom
The four dots at the bottom of 熱 (灬) represent fire. This helps you remember it's about heat!
Tea Etiquette
In Japan, tea is served very hot. Use 'atsui' to describe it, but wait for it to cool slightly before drinking.
Not Spicy!
Always remember: Atsui = Temperature, Karai = Spicy. This is the most common mistake for English speakers.
Casual Contraction
In very casual speech, you might hear 'atsuu!' instead of 'atsui!' when someone touches something hot.
Proverb Power
Using 'Tetsu wa atsui uchi ni ute' in your writing shows a high level of Japanese proficiency.
Bath Warning
If you are in an onsen, 'atsui' is a warning. 'Atatakai' is an invitation.
Internet Slang
On social media, 'atsui' is used for trending topics or exciting news.
Pitch Accent
Atsui has a rising pitch. Listen to how native speakers emphasize the 'tsu'.
Touch Test
If you can touch it, use the kanji with the fire at the bottom (熱).
Memorize
Origem da palavra
Old Japanese 'atushi'. The kanji 熱 represents 'heat' or 'fever,' showing fire (灬) at the bottom.
Contexto cultural
The 'atsui' character is the one who never gives up.
Japanese people often prefer baths much hotter than Westerners.
Slurping noodles helps cool down the 'atsui' soup as you eat.
Pratique na vida real
Contextos reais
Iniciadores de conversa
"このお茶、熱すぎませんか？ (Isn't this tea too hot?)"
"熱いお風呂とぬるいお風呂、どっちが好き？ (Do you like hot baths or lukewarm ones?)"
"最近、何か熱くなれるものはありますか？ (Is there anything you're passionate about lately?)"
"このカレー、まだ熱いから気をつけて。(This curry is still hot, so be careful.)"
"昨日の試合、熱かったね！ (Yesterday's game was intense, wasn't it?)"
Temas para diário
今日食べた熱い料理について書いてください。(Write about a hot dish you ate today.)
あなたが熱い情熱を持っていることは何ですか？ (What are you passionate about?)
熱いお風呂に入った時の気持ちを説明してください。(Describe how you feel when taking a hot bath.)
「鉄は熱いうちに打て」と思った経験はありますか？ (Have you had an experience where you thought 'strike while the iron is hot'?)
最近見た熱い映画やアニメは何ですか？ (What is a 'hot' movie or anime you saw recently?)
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNo, you should use 辛い (karai). Using 熱い means the curry is physically hot in temperature.
You should use 暑い (atsui), not 熱い.
Yes, it usually means they are passionate and hard-working, though it can sometimes mean they are 'too intense'.
The opposite is 冷たい (tsumetai) for objects, or ぬるい (nurui) for lukewarm things.
Usually, 温かい (atatakai) is better for a blanket as it implies comfort.
It becomes 熱かったです (atsukatta desu).
熱 (netsu) is the noun form, meaning 'heat' or 'a fever'.
No, they are pronounced exactly the same (atsui).
No, Japanese doesn't use 'atsui' this way. You might use 'kakkoii' or 'sekushii'.
It can mean 'to get physically hot' or 'to get emotionally fired up/excited'.
Teste-se 180 perguntas
/ 180 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
The word 熱い is your go-to adjective for physical heat you can feel with your hands and for emotional heat you feel in your heart. Just keep it away from the weather forecast!
- 熱い (atsui) means 'hot to the touch' for objects like food or water.
- It is also used for 'passionate' people or 'exciting' situations.
- Never use 熱い for weather; use 暑い (atsui) instead.
- Common examples: 熱いお茶 (hot tea), 熱い情熱 (hot passion).
I-Adjective Rule
Remember that the 'i' at the end changes for negatives and past tense. Never add 'deshita' to the dictionary form.
Fire at the Bottom
The four dots at the bottom of 熱 (灬) represent fire. This helps you remember it's about heat!
Tea Etiquette
In Japan, tea is served very hot. Use 'atsui' to describe it, but wait for it to cool slightly before drinking.
Not Spicy!
Always remember: Atsui = Temperature, Karai = Spicy. This is the most common mistake for English speakers.
Conteúdo relacionado
Mais palavras de general
いくつか
B1An unspecified small number of things; some, a few.
ちょっと
A2Um pouco; um momento. Usado para tornar pedidos mais educados.
すこし
A2A little; a few.
さっき
A2Agora pouco; há pouco tempo.
能力
A1Nouryoku refers to the mental or physical power, skill, or capacity required to perform a specific task or function. It can describe both innate talent and skills acquired through learning and practice.
異常
A1A word used to describe something that deviates from the normal state, standard, or expected pattern. It often implies a problem, malfunction, or an extraordinary occurrence that requires attention or investigation.
～について
A2Uma expressão usada para indicar o assunto de uma conversa ou pensamento.
〜について
B1Uma expressão usada para significar 'sobre' ou 'a respeito de'.
～ぐらい
A2Uma partícula japonesa que significa 'cerca de' ou 'aproximadamente'.
ぐらい
A2Levará cerca de cinco minutos. (Levará cerca de 5 minutos.)
