溶かす・融かす・解かす|とかすtokasu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
溶かす溶かす is the most common written form for this meaning. Beginners should use it as their default choice when writing the word.
融かす融かす is a rarely used written variant. You may encounter it, but beginners should generally choose 溶かす instead.
解かす解かす is a rarely used written variant. You may encounter it, but beginners should generally choose 溶かす instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto melt; to liquefy; to thaw
- godan verb, transitive verbto dissolve (in a liquid); to bring into solution
- godan verb, transitive verbto lose (money; through gambling, etc.); to squander
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 溶かす（とかす） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 溶かします（とかします） |
| Negative (nai) | 溶かさない（とかさない） |
| polite (masen) | 溶かしません（とかしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 溶かさず・溶かさぬ（とかさず・とかさぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 溶かした（とかした） |
| polite (mashita) | 溶かしました（とかしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 溶かさなかった（とかさなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 溶かしませんでした（とかしませんでした） |
| Te form | 溶かして（とかして） |
| Potential | 溶かせる（とかせる） |
| Passive | 溶かされる（とかされる） |
| Causative | 溶かさせる（とかさせる） |
| Causative passive | 溶かさせられる（とかさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 溶かせば（とかせば） |
| tara | 溶かしたら（とかしたら） |
| Volitional | 溶かそう（とかそう） |
| polite (mashou) | 溶かしましょう（とかしましょう） |
| Imperative | 溶かせ（とかせ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
氷が溶ける
氷を溶かす
溶ける describes a spontaneous change (the ice melts on its own), while 溶かす focuses on an agent causing the melting (someone melts the ice).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym溶解ようかいWrittenWritten Sino-Japanese term for dissolving, as in 「砂糖が水に溶解する」; leans toward chemical terminology.
- Synonym溶くとくNeutralTwo kitchen uses: mixing a powder with water until smooth, and beating eggs, as in 「卵を溶く」; the focus is stirring things evenly together, not melting.
- Synonym熔かすとかすWrittenWritten style. Melts only metal at high temperatures, as in smelting — a narrower range of objects than 「溶かす」.
- Related溶けるとけるNeutralIntransitive: things melt or dissolve on their own, as in 「氷が溶ける」; 「溶かす」 is the transitive form that makes them melt.
- Related解凍かいとうNeutralThawing frozen food, and by extension decompressing files; leans toward defrosting and restoring something to its original state.
- Related熔けるとけるWrittenWritten style. Used only for metals melting, as in 「鉄が熔ける」 — a narrower range than 「溶ける」.
- Related融解ゆうかいWrittenWritten word for a solid melting when heated; a physics term.
- RelatedとろけるNeutralMelts until soft — often food that melts in the mouth, as in 「とろけるチーズ」 — or being enraptured; leans toward softening and being charmed.
- Related溶化ようかWrittenWritten word for melting by heating; rarely seen, and everyday speech prefers 「溶かす」.
- Related蕩かすとろかすWrittenWritten word for melting something, also figuratively for melting someone's heart; rare in modern Japanese.
- Antonym固めるかためるNeutralAntonym: makes something hard or solid, the opposite of melting things with 「溶かす」.
- Antonym凍らすこおらすNeutralAntonym: freezes something, the opposite of melting it with 「溶かす」.
Use 「溶かす」 to melt or dissolve something in a liquid, as in 「砂糖を溶かす」. When something melts by itself, say 「溶ける」; for mixing a powder into water, 「溶く」; for thawing, 「解凍」. Written alternatives cover metal (「熔かす」), chemistry (「溶解」) and physics (「融解」). The opposites are 「固める」 and 「凍らす」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
