熱帯
nettai[ne̞t̚ta̠i]
The English word 'tropical' is translated into Japanese as 熱帯 (nettai).
熱帯 is used to describe things that are from or similar to a hot, humid climate.
Meaning: from or similar to a hot humid climate (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word 熱帯 is composed of two kanji: 熱, which means 'heat' and 帯, which means 'belt' or 'zone'. Literally, the word means 'heat zone'.
How does it change in a sentence?
While 熱帯 is a noun meaning 'the tropics', you must add the particle の to it to use it as an adjective meaning 'tropical' (e.g., 熱帯の). Additionally, when you want to refer specifically to 'the tropics' or 'tropical regions' as a geographical area, the phrase 熱帯地方 is frequently used.
How do you pronounce it?
nettai
Did you know?
- The word 熱帯 was not an indigenous Japanese term but was coined by missionaries in China and later borrowed into Japanese.
- In Japanese, while 熱帯 describes the climate, the word 南国 is often used to evoke the romantic or idyllic feeling of 'tropical' southern lands.
- The word 熱帯 is often associated with the 'tropical night' 熱帯夜, a specific meteorological term for nights when the temperature does not drop below 25 degrees Celsius.
Examples in context
- トムは熱帯魚を飼っている。Tom keeps tropical fish.This sentence shows how to use 熱帯 when describing fish.Tatoeba #2706805 by tommy_san, translation #3056541 by WestofEden
- この種の植物は熱帯地方にのみ育ちます。This kind of plant grows only in the tropical regions.This sentence demonstrates the use of the term when discussing plant growth in certain regions.Tatoeba #221278 by bunbuku, translation #58601 by CK
- 熱帯の太陽は容赦なくぎらぎら照り付けた。The tropical sun glared down relentlessly.This sentence illustrates how to describe the sun in a tropical climate using 熱帯.Tatoeba #121870 by bunbuku, translation #282134 by CM
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Misaki and Kenta are looking at a travel magazine in a cafe.
- 美咲 Misaki熱帯の島に行きたいな。Nettai no shima ni ikitai na.I want to go to a tropical island.
- 健太 Kentaいいよね。暑いのは大丈夫？Ii yo ne. Atsui no wa daijoubu?That sounds nice. Are you okay with the heat?
- 美咲 Misaki熱帯の気候なら全然平気だよ。Nettai no kikou nara zenzen heiki da yo.I'm totally fine with a tropical climate.
- 健太 Kentaそれなら、旅行の計画を立てよう。Sore nara, ryokou no keikaku o tateyou.In that case, let's make travel plans.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tropical” translations and entries 熱帯, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 熱帯, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
