温泉
onsen[õ̞ɰ̃sẽ̞ɴ]
The Japanese phrase for hot spring is 温泉, pronounced onsen. Wiktionary also lists 熱水泉 (nessuisen).
Meaning: natural spring producing hot water (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 温泉 | onsen | [õ̞ɰ̃sẽ̞ɴ] (narrow) |
| 熱水泉 | nessuisen |
温泉 refers to a natural spring producing hot water. While it literally means the hot spring itself, it is most commonly used to refer to the hot spring resorts or bathhouses built around them.
Which one should you use?
温泉 is the standard, everyday word used for the springs and the culture surrounding them. In contrast, 熱水泉 is a more technical or descriptive term for a hot water spring.
How do you pronounce it?
onsen
Did you know?
- In Japanese culture, the concept of 裸の付き合い or 'naked companionship' means that bathing in an 温泉 strips away social status and hierarchies, allowing people to speak more honestly.
- There is a distinction between 温泉 and 銭湯. While an 温泉 must be natural spring water, a 銭湯 is a public bathhouse that uses heated tap water.
- Some 温泉 are categorized as にごりゆ, or 'cloudy water', where the high mineral content turns the water an opaque white or blue, making the bather invisible beneath the surface.
Examples in context
- この温泉は穴場だね。This hot spring is a great find.Tatoeba #222887 by tommy__san, translation #60218 by orcrist
- おみやげの温泉卵だよ。It's a souvenir hot spring egg.Tatoeba #10899526 by small_snow, translation #13693663 by terrywallwork
- 僕は偶然温泉を見つけた。By chance, I found a hot spring.Tatoeba #81957 by arnab, translation #1159826 by CK
- 温泉に行ったことはありますか？Have you ever been to a hot spring?
- いいえ、まだ行ったことがありませんが、温泉は日本の伝統的な文化ですよね。No, I haven't been yet, but hot springs are a traditional part of Japanese culture, aren't they?
- いつでも！温泉はリラックスできて最高だから、ぜひ楽しんでね。Anytime! Hot springs are so relaxing and amazing, so have a great time!
- 7 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are planning a weekend trip.
- 健太 Kenta週末は温泉に行かない？Shuumatsu wa onsen ni ikanai?Shall we go to a hot spring this weekend?
- 美咲 Misakiいいですね。温泉でゆっくりしたいです。Ii desu ne. Onsen de yukkuri shitai desu.That sounds good. I want to relax at a hot spring.
- 健太 Kenta近くに有名な温泉があるよ。Chikaku ni yuumeina onsen ga aru yo.There is a famous hot spring nearby.
- 美咲 Misaki楽しみ！予約しておいてね。Tanoshimi! Yoyaku shite oite ne.I'm looking forward to it! Please make a reservation.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hot spring” translations and entries 温泉, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
