Japanese word

辛い

Pronunciation

Romajikarai

Meaning

  • i-adjectivespicy

Example

このカレーは辛いです。ko no ka rē wa tsura i de su

This curry is spicy.

Illustration for 辛い (spicy)

More examples

この料理は見た目より辛くて、驚きました。ko no ryō ri wa mi ta me yo ri tsura ku te odoro ki ma shi ta

This dish was spicier than it looked, so I was surprised.

Core concept

Describes a sharp heat in food that creates a strong sensation on the tongue.

Common phrases

  • 辛い料理kara i ryō ri

    spicy food

  • 辛いカレーkara i ka rē

    spicy curry

  • 辛いソースkara i sō su

    spicy sauce

Definition in Japanese

唐辛子などによる刺激の強い味がするさま。tō gara shi na do ni yo ru shi geki no tsuyo i aji ga su ru sa ma

Word origin

辛い (karai, "spicy") is a native Japanese adjective derived from the older adjective 辛し (karashi, "pungent"); the ending changed from し (shi) to い (i).

Usage tips

  • English uses hot for both temperature and spicy food, while Japanese distinguishes 熱い (atsui, "hot to the touch") from 辛い (karai, "spicy").

Other meanings

  • hoti-adjective

Opposites

Related words

  • 辛さtsurasaspicinessnoun

Word lists with this word