Translation and Meaning of: 辛い - karai
If you are learning Japanese or are curious about the language, you may have come across the word 辛い[からい]. It appears on menus, in everyday conversations, and even in anime. But what exactly does it mean? In this article, we will explore the meaning, origin, and uses of this word, as well as tips for memorizing it and curiosities about how Japanese people use it in daily life. Here at Suki Nihongo, our Japanese dictionary, you will find clear and practical explanations to master vocabularies like this one.
Meaning and translation of 辛い [からい]
The word 辛い[からい] is a Japanese adjective that means "spicy" or "hot," primarily used to describe flavors that burn the tongue, such as pepper or mustard. However, depending on the context, it can also convey the feeling of something "difficult" or "painful," although this usage is less common. The most direct translation to Portuguese is "picante," but it’s important to remember that Japanese often assigns emotional nuances to terms that, in other languages, would be purely descriptive.
It's important to highlight that 辛い is not limited to food. In expressions like 辛い仕事[からいしごと] (difficult job), the word takes on a more metaphorical tone. This dual meaning is an example of how Japanese can blend physical and emotional sensations into a single expression.
Origin and writing of the kanji 辛い
The kanji 辛 is composed of seven strokes and belongs to the group of characters that represent flavors and sensations. Its origin dates back to ancient China, where it was associated with the concept of "spiciness" or "harshness." Interestingly, this same kanji appears in words like 辛口[からくち] (strong taste, usually for alcoholic beverages) and 辛勝[しんしょう] (hard-fought victory), showcasing its versatility.
A tip to memorize the kanji 辛 is to observe its radical 干 (dry), which appears at the top. Although it is not directly related to the meaning of "spicy," this visual association can help fix the writing. Additionally, the kanji is often used in combination with others, such as in 辛辣[しんらつ] (acerbic, biting), reinforcing its connection to intensity.
Cultural usage and frequency in Japan
In Japan, 辛い is a common word, especially in culinary contexts. Dishes like 辛ラーメン[からラーメen] (spicy ramen) and 唐辛子[とうがらし] (red chili) are popular, and many restaurants indicate the level of spiciness with this word. It is worth noting that tolerance to spiciness varies greatly across regions—while Okinawa has a milder cuisine, areas like Tokyo and Osaka embrace stronger flavors.
Outside the kitchen, 辛い appears in everyday expressions like 辛い一日 [からいいちにち] (a tough day), showing how the Japanese connect physical sensations to emotional experiences. This duality makes the word more versatile than it seems at first glance, something that Japanese learners should keep in mind when encountering it in different situations.
Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with related words:
Synonyms and similar words
- 辛辣 (Shinratsu) - Spicy, sarcastic
- 辛口の (Karakuchi no) - Acid style, no holds barred
- 辛味のある (Karami no aru) - That has a spicy taste
- 辛苦しい (Shinkurushii) - Exhaustive, agonizing
- 辛抱強い (Shinbōzuyoi) - Patient, persevering
- 辛うじて (Karoujite) - With difficulty, just enough
- 辛勝する (Shink勝 suru) - Win with difficulty
- 辛抱する (Shinbō suru) - To have patience, to endure challenges
Romaji: karai
Kana: からい
Type: Adjective
L: jlpt-n5
Translation / Meaning: hot (spicy); salty; hard (on someone); adverse; hard
Meaning in English: hot (spicy);salty;tough (on someone);adverse;harsh
Definition: To cause a sensation of pain or suffering.
Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (辛い) karai
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (辛い) karai:
Example Sentences - (辛い) karai
See below some example sentences:
Hinansareru koto wa tsurai desu
It's hard to be criticized.
It's hard to be blamed.
- 非難される - be criticized
- こと - thing
- は - Topic particle
- 辛い - Painful, difficult
- です - is
Kafunshou ga tsurai desu
Pollen allergy is tough.
Hay fever is spicy.
- 花粉症 (かふんしょう) - pollen allergy
- が - subject particle
- 辛い (からい) - painful, difficult, bitter
- です - verb to be in the polite form
Kyuukutsu na heya de sugosu no wa tsurai
It's hard to pass time in a cramped room.
It's hard to spend in a cramped room.
- 窮屈な - means "tight, narrow, confined".
- 部屋 - means "bedroom, living room".
- で - is a particle that indicates where the action takes place.
- 過ごす - means "to spend, to spend (time)".
- のは - It is a particle that indicates the subject of the sentence.
- 辛い - means "difficult, hard, painful".
Watashi wa kanojo ga kanashimu no o miru no ga tsurai desu
It's hard for me to see her sad.
It's hard to see her sad.
- 私 - personal pronoun "I"
- は - Topic particle
- 彼女 - pronoun "she"
- が - subject particle
- 悲しむ - verb "to be sad"
- の - nominal particle
- を - direct object particle
- 見る - verb "to see"
- の - nominal particle
- が - subject particle
- 辛い - adjective "difficult"
- です - verb to be"
Shouben wo gaman suru no wa tsurai desu
It is painful to endure urination.
It is painful to endure urination.
- 小便 - urine
- を - object particle
- 我慢する - endure, withstand
- のは - particle that indicates topic
- 辛い - difficult, painful
- です - Verb to be/estar in the present
Futsukayoi wa tsurai desu
The two-day hangover is tough.
A hangover is spicy.
- 二日酔い (futsukayoi) - two-day hangover
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 辛い (tsurai) - difficult, painful, bitter
- です (desu) - polite way of being
Kono ryouri wa shiokarai desu
This food is salty.
This dish is salty.
- この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
- 料理 - noun that means "cuisine" or "dish"
- は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 塩辛い - Adjective that means "salty" or "too salty"
- です - Verb "to be" in polite form
Fujuyuu na jinsei wo okuru no wa tsurai desu
It is painful to live a crucial life.
- 不自由な - adjective that means "not free," "restricted"
- 人生 - substantive that means "life"
- を - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
- 送る - verb that means "to send"
- の - particle that indicates a nominal phrase
- は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 辛い - adjective that means "difficult," "painful"
- です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite and respectful form of the sentence
Kanojo wa tsurai byouki ni koraete iru
She is supporting a painful disease.
She has a painful disease.
- 彼女 (kanojo) - she
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 辛い (tsurai) - Painful, difficult
- 病気 (byouki) - disease
- に (ni) - particle indicating target or destination
- 堪えている (koraeteiru) - enduring, enduring
Watashi wa tsurai jōkyō ni koraeru koto ga dekimasu
I can withstand difficult situations.
I can bear the painful situation.
- 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
- は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
- 辛い (karai) - Adjective that means "spicy" or "hot"
- 状況 (joukyou) - noun meaning "situation" or "circumstance"
- に (ni) - particle indicating the grammatical function of "joukyou", in this case "in"
- 堪える (koraeru) - verb that means "to endure" or "to tolerate"
- こと (koto) - noun that indicates an action or abstract event, in this case "to endure"
- が (ga) - particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case "I"
- できます (dekimasu) - verb that means "to be able to" or "to be able to do"
Other Words of this Type: Adjective
See other words from our dictionary that are also: Adjective
