How to say "warm" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 暖かいあたたかいi-adjectiveCovers pleasant warmth: mild weather, a warm room, bathwater or clothing, and figuratively a warm, kind person or heart — the word for the friendly warmth that English 'warm' often carries.だんだん暖かくなります。↗It will get warmer and warmer.
- 温めるあたためるichidan verb, transitive verbThe verb for warming something up: food, drinks, a room. You use it when 'warm' is an action you perform on something, not a description of a state.
- 暑いあついi-adjectiveReally means 'hot' — uncomfortably hot weather or air. It only marginally means 'warm'; for pleasantly warm weather this is seldom the word you want.
- 温暖おんだんna-adjective, nounDescribes warm, mild climates and regions — the 'temperate' sense — rather than the temperature of objects, food or bodies. Choose it when talking about climate, not everyday warmth.
- 手厚いてあついi-adjectiveOnly figurative: warm, kind, hospitable treatment or reception — a warm welcome, generous care. It never describes physical temperature; if 'warm' means heat, this is not the word.
Use 「暖かい」 for pleasant warmth of weather, things or feelings, 「温める」 when warming something up, 「暑い」 only for hot rather than mild weather, 温暖 for mild climates, and 「手厚い」 for warm, hospitable treatment.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 暖かいあたたかいwarm
- 温めるあたためるto warm (up)
- 暑いあついhot
- 温暖おんだんwarm
- 手厚いてあついwarm (treatment, reception, etc.)
- 温めるぬくめるto warm (up)
- あぶるto warm (e.g. one's hands over a fire)
- 暖かあたたかwarm
- ぬくいwarm
- 細やかこまやかtender
- ほんわかwarm
- ぬくといwarm
- 熱臭いねつくさいwarm (esp. from the fever of a sick person)
- ウォームwarm
- 懇篤こんとくcordial
- 血の通ったちのかよったflesh-and-blood
- 厚いあついkind
- あちさんhot
See also
This browser can't play pronunciations (needs Safari 18.4 or later, or Chrome / Edge / Firefox).
