暑い
あつい·atsui
Meaning
hot (weather or temperature); sweltering
Nuance & Usage
暑い describes hot weather or ambient temperature — the heat you feel from the environment. This is distinct from 熱い (atsui — same pronunciation, different kanji), which describes something that is hot to the touch or hot liquid/food, and 辛い (karai), which means spicy. Another related word: 蒸し暑い (mushi-atsui — hot and humid, muggy), which perfectly describes Japanese summers. The opposite is 寒い (samui — cold weather).
Common Mistakes
The most critical mistake: confusing 暑い (atsui — hot weather) with 熱い (atsui — hot to touch/hot food). Same sound, completely different kanji and usage! ✓ 今日は暑い (Today is hot — weather). ✓ このスープは熱い (This soup is hot — temperature of the item). Using the wrong kanji is a very common writing error even among intermediate learners.
Example Sentences (3)
今日はとても暑いですね。
きょうはとてもあついですね。
It's very hot today, isn't it?
夏の京都は蒸し暑くて大変です。
なつのきょうとはむしあつくてたいへんです。
Kyoto in summer is terribly hot and humid.
暑いので冷たい飲み物が飲みたいです。
あついのでつめたいのみものがのみたいです。
Because it's hot, I want a cold drink.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
N54 questionsTest your knowledge of 暑い with 4 different question types.
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