1.
warm air; warm air mass
Warm air, especially as a meteorological term referring to a warm air mass or warm front.
南から暖気が流れ込んでいる。
Warm air is flowing in from the south.
暖気と寒気がぶつかると前線ができる。
When warm and cold air masses collide, a front forms.
週末にかけて暖気が入り、気温が上がる見込みだ。
Warm air is expected to move in toward the weekend, raising temperatures.
2.
warming up; idling to warm up (an engine)
The act of running an engine at idle to bring it to operating temperature before driving. Also written as 暖機.
冬は暖気運転をしてから出発する。
In winter, I warm up the engine before setting off.
最近の車は暖気が必要ないと言われている。
They say modern cars don't need to be warmed up.
エンジンの暖気が終わるまで少し待ってください。
Please wait a moment until the engine finishes warming up.
暖気 has two distinct uses: warm air (meteorology) and warming up an engine (automotive).
SENSE 1 — WARM AIR:
Used in weather reports and meteorology. Often paired with 寒気 (cold air).
- 暖気が流れ込む: warm air flows in
- 暖気と寒気がぶつかる: warm and cold air masses collide
SENSE 2 — ENGINE WARM-UP:
Running an engine at idle to bring it to operating temperature. Also written 暖機 (with the kanji for "machine").
- 暖気運転: idling to warm up
- 暖気が終わる: the warm-up is finished
NOTE:
Modern cars generally do not require long warm-up periods, so this sense is becoming less common in everyday conversation.
Related Words
Antonym:
寒気 (cold air)