熱
[ne̞t͡sɨ]
The Japanese word for heat is 熱.
熱 refers to the condition or quality of being hot. It is used to describe physical heat, such as that which causes expansion or transmission in materials. In a medical context, 熱 is the standard word used to mean a fever.
Meaning: condition or quality of being hot (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 熱 refers to physical heat or a fever, 暑さ specifically refers to the sensation of hot weather.
How does it change in a sentence?
As a noun, 熱 is often followed by the particle を (wo) when it is the object of a verb, such as in the phrase 鉄は熱をよく伝える (Iron transmits heat well).
Did you know?
- The phrase 熱中する uses 熱 to mean 'to be absorbed' or 'hooked' on something. It literally describes being 'in the middle of the heat' of an activity.
- In Japanese, the word for fever 熱 is also used as a verb 熱を出す to mean 'to run a fever'. While English uses 'have' or 'run', Japanese literally says 'to put out' or 'to produce' heat.
- The word 熱 shares its Middle Chinese roots with the character used in Chinese to represent the same concept of heat.
Examples in context
- 水は熱で膨張する。Water expands with heat.This sentence shows how water expands with 熱.Tatoeba #143734 by KK_kaku_, translation #270832 by CM
- 鉄は熱をよく伝える。Iron transmits heat well.This sentence demonstrates how iron transmits 熱.Tatoeba #125242 by KK_kaku_, translation #278751 by CK
- トムって、熱中症になったんだよ。Tom had a heat stroke.This sentence uses 熱 in the context of heat stroke.Tatoeba #8983674 by small_snow, translation #5085391 by Hybrid
- 今日は本当に暑いね。Today is really hot, isn't it?
- ジメジメした日は蒸し暑いですね。Humid days are really muggy, aren't they?
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Himi and Kenta are talking about the weather during summer.
- 陽葵 Himari今日の熱さは信じられないね。Kyō no atsusa wa shinjirarenai ne.Today's heat is unbelievable, isn't it?
- 健太 Kenta本当に。熱で外に出られないよ。Hontō ni. Netsu de soto ni derarenai yo.Really. I can't go outside because of the heat.
- 陽葵 Himari冷たい飲み物を買おうか。Tsumetai nomimono o kaō ka.Shall we buy some cold drinks?
- 健太 Kenta賛成。そうしよう、陽葵。Sansei. Sō shiyō, Himari.I agree. Let's do that, Himari.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 熱, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 熱, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
