Readings: ヨウ (Onyomi), と-ける, と-かす (Kunyomi)
Meaning: dissolve, melt
The kanji 溶 combines the water radical 氵 (water) with the component 容 (yō), meaning “contain” or “appearance.” Together, they visually suggest a substance changing its form within water, leading to the meanings “dissolve” or “melt.”
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 溶 begins with the three strokes of the water radical (氵) on the left, followed by the strokes for the right-hand component. Ensure proper balance and flow.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 氵 (水) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 14 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | Jouyou Kanji |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ヨウ (YŌ)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- とける (tokeru)
- とかす (tokasu)
Common Words Using 溶
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 溶解 | ようかい | dissolution, melting |
| 溶液 | ようえき | solution (chemistry) |
| 溶岩 | ようがん | lava |
| 溶剤 | ようざい | solvent |
| 溶接 | ようせつ | welding |
| 溶融 | ようゆう | melting, fusion |
| 溶出 | ようしゅつ | elution, leaching |
| 溶媒 | ようばい | solvent (more technical) |
| 溶血 | ようけつ | hemolysis |
| 溶存 | ようそん | dissolved (e.g., dissolved oxygen) |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 溶ける | とける | to melt, to dissolve (intransitive) |
| 溶かす | とかす | to melt, to dissolve (transitive) |
| 雪解け | ゆきどけ | thawing of snow |
| 溶け込む | とけこむ | to blend in, to melt into |
| 溶け出す | とけだす | to start melting/dissolving |
| 煮溶かす | にととかす | to melt by boiling |
| 氷が溶ける | こおりがとける | ice melts |
| バターを溶かす | バターをとかす | to melt butter |
| 心が溶ける | こころがとける | one’s heart melts (figurative) |
| 顔が溶ける | かおがとける | face melts (figurative, e.g., from extreme heat) |
Example Sentences
Japanese: チョコレートが熱で溶けた。
Kana: チョコレートがねつでとけた。
Romaji: Chokorēto ga netsu de toketa.
English: The chocolate melted from the heat.
Japanese: 砂糖は水によく溶ける。
Kana: さとうはみずによくとける。
Romaji: Satō wa mizu ni yoku tokeru.
English: Sugar dissolves well in water.
Japanese: バターをフライパンで溶かしてください。
Kana: バターをフライパンでとかしてください。
Romaji: Batā o furaipan de tokashite kudasai.
English: Please melt the butter in the frying pan.
Japanese: 彼は新しいクラスにすぐに溶け込んだ。
Kana: かれはあたらしいクラスにすぐにとけこんだ。
Romaji: Kare wa atarashii kurasu ni sugu ni tokekonda.
English: He quickly blended into the new class.
Japanese: この薬は水に溶かして飲んでください。
Kana: このくすりはみずにととかしてのんでください。
Romaji: Kono kusuri wa mizu ni tokashite nonde kudasai.
English: Please dissolve this medicine in water and drink it.
Japanese: 火山の噴火で溶岩が流れ出した。
Kana: かざんのふんかでようがんがながれだした。
Romaji: Kazan no funka de yōgan ga nagaredashita.
English: Lava flowed out due to the volcanic eruption.
Japanese: 雪解けの季節になり、花が咲き始めた。
Kana: ゆきどけのきせつになり、はながさきはじめた。
Romaji: Yukidoke no kisetsu ni nari, hana ga saki hajimeta.
English: It became the season of thawing snow, and flowers began to bloom.
Japanese: 化学実験で、未知の物質を溶解させた。
Kana: かがくじっけんで、みちのぶっしつをようかいさせた。
Romaji: Kagaku jikken de, michi no busshitsu o yōkai saseta.
English: In the chemistry experiment, an unknown substance was dissolved.
Japanese: この接着剤は熱で溶融します。
Kana: このせっちゃくざいはねつでようゆうします。
Romaji: Kono secchakuzai wa netsu de yōyū shimasu.
English: This adhesive melts with heat.
Japanese: 彼女の優しい言葉に彼の凍りついた心が溶けた。
Kana: かのじょのやさしいことばにかれのこおりついたこころがとけた。
Romaji: Kanojo no yasashii kotoba ni kare no kōritsuita kokoro ga toketa.
English: His frozen heart melted at her kind words.
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