1.
to melt
To change from solid to liquid by heat.
雪が溶けた。
The snow melted.
氷が日に当たって溶けている。
The ice is melting in the sunlight.
チョコレートが口の中で溶けた。
The chocolate melted in my mouth.
2.
to dissolve
To become absorbed into a liquid.
砂糖が水に溶ける。
Sugar dissolves in water.
塩はお湯に溶けやすい。
Salt dissolves easily in hot water.
薬が水に溶けるまで待ってください。
Please wait until the medicine dissolves in water.
溶ける describes something changing from solid to liquid, or dissolving into a liquid.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 自動詞 (intransitive)
- Pair: 溶かす (transitive, to melt/dissolve something)
ASPECT (ている):
溶けている indicates the state of being melted or dissolved: 氷が溶けている (the ice is melted).
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 雪が溶ける: snow melts
- 氷が溶ける: ice melts
- 砂糖が溶ける: sugar dissolves
- 心が溶ける: heart melts (figurative)
DISTINCTION:
- 溶ける: to melt or dissolve
- 解ける: to come undone, loosen, be solved