How to say "heavy" in Japanese

• 重いおもいJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectiveThe everyday word for weight: physically heavy objects, and figuratively burdens, responsibilities, illness or feelings that weigh on one. For most senses of 'heavy', this is the word to reach for.
  体積たいせきが大おおきいからといって常つねに重量じゅうりょうも重おもいとは限かぎらない。↗

  Great bulk does not always mean great weight.
• 重たいおもたいJLPT N2approx.Common
  i-adjectiveA variant of 重い with essentially the same meaning, tending to describe heaviness as it is felt in the body — a sluggish, heavy feeling — rather than as an objective measure of weight.
  その箱ばこは重おもたくて運はこべません。↗

  The box is too heavy to carry.
• 厚いあついJLPT N5approx.Common
  i-adjectivePrimarily 'thick' — of physical objects, coatings, layers — or 'deep', as of kindness or interest; its 'heavy' use is marginal, so this is seldom the word you want for 'heavy'.
  氷こおりは２インチの厚あつさだ。↗

  The ice is two inches thick.
• 濃厚のうこうCommon
  na-adjectiveDescribes 'heavy' in the sense of dense or rich: heavy flavors, strong smells, deep colors, thick soup, heavy makeup. For these taste, smell and texture senses, this is the natural choice.
  味あじも濃厚のうこうで、炒め物いためもの、スープなど中華ちゅうか料理りょうりに深ふかみを与あたえます。↗

  It also has a strong flavour, and adds depth to Chinese food such as soups and stir-fries.
• ヘビーCommon
  na-adjective, nounThe English loanword, kept to borrowed expressions rather than used as the ordinary adjective; for actual weight or figurative heaviness, 重い is the word, and this rarely substitutes for it.
  彼かれはまだヘビー級へびーきゅうの選手権せんしゅけんを保持ほじしている。↗

  He still holds the heavyweight title.

Choose 「重い」 for literal or figurative weight, 「重たい」 for heaviness the body feels, 濃厚 for rich, strong or thick flavors, colors and textures, 「厚い」 mainly for thick and deep, and 「ヘビー」 within loanwords.

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

• 重いおもいheavy
• 重たいおもたいheavy
• 厚いあついthick
• 濃厚のうこうrich (flavor, color, etc.)
• ヘビーheavy
• 厚手あつでthick (paper, cloth, etc.)
• 大おおlarge
• 重苦しいおもくるしいheavy (feeling, etc.)
• 分厚いぶあついthick
• だるいsluggish
• 荒いあらいrough
• 濃密のうみつdense
• 甚だしいはなはだしいextreme
• 重質じゅうしつheavy (esp. in oil, chemistry, etc.)
• 重たげおもたげheavy
• 重ったいおもったいheavy
• 物々しいものものしいstrict (e.g. security)
• 厚ぼったいあつぼったいvery thick
• ぼてぼてbulky (e.g. clothing)
• 靉靆あいたいtrailing (clouds)
• 重厚長大じゅうこうちょうだいheavy, thick, long, and big (products, esp. industrial)
• まとまったlarge
• 腹にたまるはらにたまるfilling (meal)
• 濃い口こいくちrich (taste)
• どぎついgaudy
• 分厚ぶあつthick
• ごてごてしいover-the-top
• だりぃsluggish
• うっとうしいheavy (weather)
• くどいheavy (taste)
• しつこいtoo rich (taste, etc.)
• 息苦しいいきぐるしいoppressive
• ひどいviolent
• 重じゅうheavy
• どんよりheavy
• 鼻息が荒いはないきがあらいheavy (nasal breathing)
• うっといheavy (weather)
• 毒々しいどくどくしいgaudy
• あちさんthick