What is the difference between "あつい" and "篤い"?

"あつい" means "hot (temperature, weather, objects)" (N5), whereas "篤い" represents "devout, fervent, serious (illness), sincere (loyalty)" (N2).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "あつい (atsui)"

Same sound, completely different Kanji! Choose the right conceptual writing.

Kanji Option A

あつい (atsui)

N5 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

あつい (atsui)

N2 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "あつい (atsui)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

あつい (Level: N5): Translates to "hot (temperature, weather, objects)" and is used when Can be 暑い for hot weather/air, or 熱い for hot objects/liquids. Distinguish between them in usage..
篤い (Level: N2): Maps to "devout, fervent, serious (illness), sincere (loyalty)" and carries the nuance of Can refer to strong faith/belief, deep loyalty, or the severity of an illness. Not about physical heat.

Mixing these up can easily result in unnatural writing. Look at the bilingual context cards below to master the conceptual boundaries!

Bilingual Context for "あつい"

夏は毎日暑いです。このお茶は熱いです。

Every day is hot in summer. This tea is hot.

Bilingual Context for "篤い"

彼は仏教への信仰が篤いことで知られている。

He is known for his devout faith in Buddhism.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "夏は毎日暑いです。このお茶は熱いです。" (Meaning: "Every day is hot in summer. This tea is hot.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "あつい" is used for "hot (temperature, weather, objects)" in the context: "Every day is hot in summer. This tea is hot.".