“Spicy” in Japanese is 辛い (からい), pronounced karai.
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
Spicy hot, and also salty in some regions. The same kanji read つらい means painful or tough.
Example sentences
- このカレーは辛いです。このカレーはからいです。This curry is spicy.
- 辛いものは食べられません。からいものはたべられません。I can’t eat spicy food.
Conjugation
The most useful forms of 辛い. The rules are explained in い- vs. な-adjectives.
| Form | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plain | 辛い からい | spicy |
| Polite present | 辛いです からいです | is spicy |
| Negative | 辛くないです からくないです | isn’t spicy |
| Past | 辛かったです からかったです | was spicy |
| Past negative | 辛くなかったです からくなかったです | wasn’t spicy |
| て-form | 辛くて からくて | spicy and… |
| Adverb (く) | 辛く からく | adverb form (+ verb) |
Quick practice
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What does {{辛い}} mean?
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Related words: Adjectives
FAQ
How do you say spicy in Japanese?
Spicy in Japanese is 辛い (からい), pronounced “karai”.
How do you write spicy in Japanese?
It's written 辛い with kanji, or からい in hiragana. Both are read karai.
Is 辛い on the JLPT?
Yes. 辛い (karai) is a common word at JLPT N5 level, so it's worth learning early.