暖気(だんき)

だんき
noun
warm air; warming up (an engine)
weather
1. warm air; warm air mass
Warm air, especially as a meteorological term referring to a warm air mass or warm front.
南(みなみ)から暖気(だんき)が流(なが)れ込(こ)んでいる。
Warm air is flowing in from the south.
暖気(だんき)と寒気(かんき)がぶつかると前線(ぜんせん)ができる。
When warm and cold air masses collide, a front forms.
週末(しゅうまつ)にかけて暖気(だんき)が入(はい)り、気温(きおん)が上(あ)がる見込(みこ)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. The standard spelling for this sense is 暖機 (暖機運転); 暖気 is a common variant.
冬(ふゆ)は暖気(だんき)運転(うんてん)をしてから出発(しゅっぱつ)する。
In winter, I warm up the engine before setting off.
最近(さいきん)の車(くるま)は暖気(だんき)が必要(ひつよう)ないと言(い)われている。
They say modern cars don't need to be warmed up.
エンジンの暖気(だんき)が終(お)わるまで少(すこ)し待(ま)ってください。
Please wait a moment until the engine finishes warming up.

暖気(だんき) 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(かんき) (cold air).

SENSE 2 — ENGINE WARM-UP:
Running an engine at idle to bring it to operating temperature. Also written 暖機(だんき) (with the kanji for "machine").

  • 暖気(だんき)運転(うんてん): idling to warm up
  • 暖気(だんき)が終(お)わる: the warm-up is finished

Usage

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(かんき) (cold air)
Antonym: 冷気(れいき) (cold air)
general
Added 2026.3.8 21:24 · Revised 2026.10.16 9:43
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