How to say "steep" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 漬けるつけるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'steep' in the sense of putting something in liquid to soak or pickle it. Typical when dunking or leaving food or an object immersed in a liquid for a while.
- 浸すひたすgodan verb, transitive verbAlso 'steep' in the liquid sense: to soak, dip, or immerse something. Nuance is closer to immersing or letting something sit submerged, as when soaking in water.
- 切り立ったきりたったprenominal modifierDescribes terrain or rock faces that are steep or precipitous, as if sharply cut. Typical for cliffs and mountainsides rising abruptly; not used for the soaking sense of 'steep'.
- 険しいけわしいi-adjectiveMatches 'steep' via 'precipitous', but its core meanings are rugged, inaccessible, or impregnable. For steep, difficult mountain paths it works, yet it is really about harsh, forbidding terrain rather than steepness alone.
For the 'soak/steep in liquid' sense use 「漬ける」 or 「浸す」 (verbs); for the 'steep slope' sense use the adjective-like 「切り立った」 or 「険しい」, which describe precipitous terrain.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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