辛い|からいkarai[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. i-adjectivespicy; hot
   私は辛からい食物しょくもつはあまり好すきではない。↗

   I don't care too much for hot food.
2. i-adjectivesalty
3. i-adjectiveharsh (criticism); severe (punishment); strict
4. i-adjectivepainful; bitter; difficult; tough
   彼女かのじょは多おおくの辛からい思おもいを経験けいけんしてきた。↗

   She has gone through many difficulties.

• RelatedきついCasualColloquial. Strong stimulation, harshness, or something tiring; of taste, usually too salty or too strong. 「辛い」mainly means spicy, but can also be salty or harsh.
• RelatedぴりっとくるCasualColloquial phrase with a mimetic feel: describes a spicy or pungent kick that hits you all at once.
• Antonym甘いあまいNeutralThe opposite of 「辛い」: sweet, but also used for food that is lightly salted or not spicy at all.

Use 「辛い」 for spicy heat; it can also mean salty or harsh (as criticism), though salty food is more often called 「しょっぱい」 in daily speech. Say 「ぴりっとくる」 when the kick hits at once, 「きつい」 when it's too strong, and 「甘い」 for not spicy.

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

1. 舌したを刺激しげきするような味あじ。香辛料こうしんりょうによるひりひりとした辛つらさ。
2. （「鹹からい」とも）しょっぱい。塩しおが多おおい。
3. 手厳てきびしい。容赦ようしゃがない。
4. （酒さけなどについて）甘あまさが控ひかえめである。
5. （「からくも」などの形かたちで）危あやうい。
6. つらい。