Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Spicy" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "spicy", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
からい
からい (karai)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
辛い
からい (karai)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "spicy" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between からい and 辛い.
In Japanese, からい (からい (karai)) is typically associated with "spicy" (Syllabus Level: N5) and represents An i-adjective.
On the other hand, 辛い (からい (karai)) maps to "spicy; hot (flavor)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents I-adjective. Primarily describes the taste of food. A literal translation of "spicy" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "からい"
このカレーはとてもからいです。
This curry is very spicy.
Bilingual Context for "辛い"
この料理はとても辛い。
This dish is very spicy.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "このカレーはとても ＿＿＿ です。" (Meaning: "This curry is very spicy.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "からい" fits here because it means "spicy" in the context of: "This curry is very spicy.". "辛い" represents "spicy; hot (flavor)".