“Heavy” in Japanese is 重い (おもい), pronounced omoi.
Pronunciation
The word has 3 beats (morae), each about the same length. Tap a syllable to hear it, or play the whole word:
How to use it
Heavy, also serious, as in a serious illness.
Example sentences
- このかばんは重いです。このかばんはおもいです。This bag is heavy.
- 重いので気をつけてください。おもいのできをつけてください。It’s heavy, so be careful.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 重い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 重い おもい | heavy |
| Polite present | 重いです おもいです | is heavy |
| Negative | 重くないです おもくないです | isn’t heavy |
| Past | 重かったです おもかったです | was heavy |
| Past negative | 重くなかったです おもくなかったです | wasn’t heavy |
| て-form | 重くて おもくて | heavy and… |
| Adverb (く) | 重く おもく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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What does {{重い}} mean?
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say heavy in Japanese?
Heavy in Japanese is 重い (おもい), pronounced “omoi”.
How do you write heavy in Japanese?
It's written 重い with kanji, or おもい in hiragana. Both are read omoi.
Is 重い on the JLPT?
Yes. 重い (omoi) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.