What is the difference between "解ける" and "とける"?

"解ける" means "to untie, to come undone, to be solved, to melt" (N3), whereas "とける" represents "to melt, to dissolve, to thaw" (N3).

Kanji Homophone Battle

Pronunciation Trap: "とける (tokeru)"

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

Kanji Option A

とける (tokeru)

N3 / CEFR

Kanji Option B

とける (tokeru)

N3 / CEFR

In Japanese, many words share the exact same pronunciation "とける (tokeru)" but are written with different Kanji, changing the meaning entirely.

解ける (Level: N3): Translates to "to untie, to come undone, to be solved, to melt" and is used when An intransitive verb with various meanings. Can refer to a knot coming undone, a problem being solved, or ice/snow melting. Often used when something.
とける (Level: N3): Maps to "to melt, to dissolve, to thaw" and carries the nuance of Intransitive verb. Used for ice, sugar, snow, etc., changing from solid to liquid, dissolving, or thawing. The transitive form is 溶かす.

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

Bilingual Context for "解ける"

この問題は難しかったが、やっと解けた。

This problem was difficult, but I finally solved it.

Bilingual Context for "とける"

冷蔵庫から出したばかりのバターは、すぐに溶けた。

The butter, fresh out of the refrigerator, melted quickly.

Which Kanji perfectly fits this blank space?

Which Kanji perfectly fits the blank: "この問題は難しかったが、やっと解けた。" (Meaning: "This problem was difficult, but I finally solved it.")

🎉 Correct Answer!

Correct! "解ける" is used for "to untie, to come undone, to be solved, to melt" in the context: "This problem was difficult, but I finally solved it.".