How to say "melt" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 溶けるとけるichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers the intransitive sense of 'melt': something turns liquid, softens through heat, or thaws on its own. Ice, snow, butter, or chocolate melting by itself takes this verb.
- 溶かすとかすgodan verb, transitive verbCovers the transitive sense of 'melt': someone or something causes another thing to melt, liquefy, or thaw. Use this when a person melts butter or sugar, for example.
Use 「溶ける」 when something melts by itself (intransitive), and 「溶かす」 when someone or something melts it (transitive); pick based on whether the subject melts or does the melting.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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