温(あたた)かい

あたたかい
i-adjective
warm (food, drink, feelings)
1. warm (food, drink, objects)
Pleasantly warm to the touch or in temperature, especially for food, beverages, and objects. Distinguished from 暖(あたた)かい, which is used for air temperature and climate.
温(あたた)かいお茶(ちゃ)をどうぞ。
Please have some warm tea.
温(あたた)かいスープが体(からだ)にしみる。
The warm soup warms me to the core.
寒(さむ)い日(ひ)には温(あたた)かい料理(りょうり)が恋(こい)しくなる。
On cold days, I crave warm food.
2. warm, kind, warm-hearted
Having a kind, caring, and gentle quality. Used to describe people, words, and gestures that convey warmth and compassion.
温(あたた)かい言葉(ことば)をかける。
To offer warm words.
温(あたた)かい人柄(ひとがら)で皆(みな)に好(す)かれている。
Liked by everyone for their warm personality.
近所(きんじょ)の人(ひと)たちの温(あたた)かい支援(しえん)のおかげで、困難(こんなん)を乗(の)り越(こ)えることができた。
Thanks to the warm support of the neighbors, I was able to overcome the difficulty.

KANJI DISTINCTION:

温(あたた)かい vs. 暖(あたた)かい — both are read あたたかい but use different kanji:

  • 温(あたた)かい (温(おん)): warmth of objects, food, drink, water, and figurative warmth (kindness)
  • 暖(あたた)かい (暖(だん)): warmth of air, weather, climate, and rooms

The distinction is not always strictly observed, and many writers use them interchangeably. However, the general guideline is: 温(あたた)かい for things you touch or taste, 暖(あたた)かい for ambient temperature.

CONJUGATION:

  • Negative: 温(あたた)かくない
  • Past: 温(あたた)かかった
  • Adverb: 温(あたた)かく

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 温(あたた)かいお茶(ちゃ): warm tea
  • 温(あたた)かい食(た)べ物(もの): warm food
  • 温(あたた)かい言葉(ことば): warm words
  • 温(あたた)かい人柄(ひとがら): warm personality
  • 温(あたた)かい目(め)で見守(みまも)る: to watch over warmly

Related Words

Contrast: 暖(あたた)かい (warm (weather/climate))
general
Added 2026.2.24 20:13
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