Japanese word

沸く

Pronunciation

Romajiwaku

Meaning

  • verbboil

Example

もうすぐお湯が沸きます。mō su gu o yu ga wa ki ma su

The water will boil soon.

Illustration for 沸く (boil)

More examples

鍋の中のスープが沸いています。nabe no naka no sū pu ga wa i te i ma su

The soup in the pot is boiling.

Core concept

Expresses a liquid gradually reaching its boiling point and changing into an active, bubbling state.

Common phrases

  • お湯が沸くo yu ga wa ku

    water boils

Similar words

沸騰するfuttōsuru: A liquid reaches the boiling point and produces strong, continuous bubbles.
煮立つnitatsu: A liquid comes to a boil in a pot while food is being heated.

Definition in Japanese

水や湯などが熱せられ、煮え立つ状態になる。mizu ya yu na do ga nes se ra re ni e ta tsu jō tai ni na ru

Word origin

沸く (waku, "to boil") is a native Japanese verb related to 沸かす (wakasu, "to make something boil"); the first describes boiling that occurs in the liquid, and the second describes causing it.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, お風呂が沸く (ofuro ga waku) commonly means that the bath has been heated to a comfortable temperature and is ready, not that it is bubbling.

Other meanings

  • grow hotverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word