Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Melt" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "melt", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
とける
とける (tokeru)
N3 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
鎔ける
鎔ける(とける)
C2PLUS / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "melt" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between とける and 鎔ける.
In Japanese, とける (とける (tokeru)) is typically associated with "to melt, to dissolve, to thaw" (Syllabus Level: N3) and represents Intransitive verb. Used for ice, sugar, snow, etc., changing from solid to liquid, dissolving, or thawing. The transitive form is 溶かす.
On the other hand, 鎔ける (鎔ける(とける)) maps to "to melt, to fuse (specifically used for metals and ore)" (Syllabus Level: C2PLUS) and represents Essential structural term in CEFR C2PLUS vocabulary syllabus.. A literal translation of "melt" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
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.
Bilingual Context for "鎔ける"
毎日、日本語を練習するために鎔ける。
Every day, I melt, to fuse (specifically used for metals and ore) to practice Japanese.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "冷蔵庫から出したばかりのバターは、すぐに溶けた。" (Meaning: "The butter, fresh out of the refrigerator, melted quickly.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "とける" fits here because it means "to melt, to dissolve, to thaw" in the context of: "The butter, fresh out of the refrigerator, melted quickly.". "鎔ける" represents "to melt, to fuse (specifically used for metals and ore)".