How to say "dissolve" in Japanese

• 溶くとくJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers dissolving something by mixing it into a liquid, such as salt or paint, with the emphasis on blending rather than on dissolving itself. It is really a mixing verb, so it suits culinary or artistic contexts.
• 溶けるとけるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbThe intransitive sense: a substance dissolves in a liquid by itself, and it can also mean being soluble. Use it when describing sugar or salt disappearing into water, without focusing on an agent doing the dissolving.
  砂糖さとうは水みずに溶とける。↗

  Sugar dissolves in water.
• 溶かすとかすJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe transitive counterpart of 溶ける: someone dissolves something in a liquid or brings it into solution. Use it when an agent deliberately dissolves something, such as dissolving a powder in water.
  彼かれはコーヒーに砂糖さとうを溶とかした。↗

  He dissolved some sugar in his coffee.

For dissolving something in a liquid, use 「溶く」 when mixing it in, 「溶かす」 when actively dissolving it, and 「溶ける」 when the substance dissolves on its own, i.e. intransitively.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 溶くとくto mix (e.g. water with flour)
• ディゾルブdissolve
• 取り潰すとりつぶすto dissolve (an organization, company, etc.)
• フェードアウトfade-out
• 溶暗ようあんfade-out
• 溶けるとけるto dissolve (in a liquid)
• 溶かすとかすto dissolve (in a liquid)
• 散るちるto disappear
• とくto dissolve (a contract)