溶ける
tokeru[to̞ke̞ɾɯ̟]
The English phrase 'melt' is expressed in Japanese as 溶ける (tokeru).
溶ける is an intransitive verb used when a solid becomes a liquid. It is also used to describe substances dissolving in a liquid, like sugar in water.
Meaning: intransitive: (of a solid) to become a liquid (verb)
Which one should you use?
溶ける is intransitive. In contrast, 溶かす is the transitive version, which means 'to melt (something)'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plain negative form of 溶ける, meaning 'does not melt', is 溶けない.
How do you pronounce it?
tokeru
Did you know?
- When describing a 'melting' texture in food, such as high-grade Wagyu beef or chocolate, Japanese speakers use the word とろける instead of 溶ける.
- While 溶ける describes a solid turning into a liquid, Japanese speakers often use the similar sounding 解ける to describe things like 'knots' or 'problems' being solved or untied.
- In the context of snow, 溶ける is used for the process of thawing, but you will often see the word 融ける in technical or scientific texts to specifically denote a phase change from solid to liquid.
Examples in context
- アイスクリームが太陽の熱でとけちゃった。The ice cream melted in the heat of the sun.
- 氷が溶ける。koori ga tokeru.The ice melts.
- 暑いのでチョコが溶ける。atsui node choko ga tokeru.The chocolate melts because it is hot.
- 雪が溶ける。yuki ga tokeru.The snow melts.
Example conversation
Inside a kitchen on a hot summer day.
- 陽葵 Himari暑いから、アイスがすぐ溶けるね。atsui kara, aisu ga sugu tokeru ne.It's hot, so the ice cream melts quickly, doesn't it?
- 健太 Kenta本当だ。早く食べよう。hontou da. hayaku tabeyou.You're right. Let's eat quickly.
- 陽葵 Himari健太くん、溶けてきちゃったよ。Kenta-kun, tokete kichatta yo.Kenta, it has started to melt.
- 健太 Kenta大丈夫、まだ食べられるよ。daijoubu, mada taberareru yo.It's okay, I can still eat it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “melt” translations and entries 溶ける, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
