熱い Hot

Meaning

Primary

Hot

Alternatives

Hot To The Touch, Passionate

Word Type

い adjective

Explanation

This is a single kanji with an い on the end, so you know it's probably an adjective. The adjective form of hot is still hot!

This is for something hot to the touch, not for the weather (that'd be 暑い). Think boiling water or someone's forehead when they have a fever — those are 熱い. Figuratively, it can also mean passionate. Burning passion, right?

Reading

あつい

Explanation

This word has a kanji with hiragana attached, so you know it'll use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn it with the kanji, but you should know a very similar word that means hot and uses the same あつい reading: 暑い! These words are for different kinds of hot, but they're pronounced exactly the same way. Just remember that hot = あつい and you'll be OK.

Context

Common Word Combinations

• 熱い〜

  熱い物

  hot food, something hot

  熱いお湯

  hot water

  熱い思い

  passionate feelings, passionate yearning

  熱いお茶

  hot tea

  熱いコーヒー

  hot coffee

  熱いスープ

  hot soup

• 〜が熱い

  心が熱い

  to have a passionate heart, to experience a heart-warming feeling

  顔が熱い

  to be hot-headed, one's head feels hot

  体が熱い

  one's body feels hot

Context Sentences

私は熱いお茶が好きです。

I like hot tea.

でも、これはちょっと熱すぎます。

But this is a little too hot.

カップもすごく熱くて、持てません。

Even the cup is so hot that I can't hold it.

高校の時の熱い先生を思い出すくらい、熱いお茶です。

It's so burning hot, it reminds me of my passionate high school teacher.

あの先生より熱いものはないと思っていました。今日までは。

I thought nothing could be as burning hot as that teacher's passion. Until today.

Kanji Composition

1. 熱

   ねつ Heat