温まる

• Reading: あたたまる
• Romaji: atatamaru
• Kanji breakdown: 温 (on/atata) — warm, mild, gentle heat
• Pronunciation: /a.ta.ta.ma.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To warm up; to get warm. Used for both physical warming and figurative warmth of the heart.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb. Paired with the transitive 温める (to warm something). Used for the body warming up (体が温まる), a room getting warmer, food reaching a warm temperature, and figuratively for the heart being warmed (心が温まる). The kanji 温 specifically implies a gentle, comfortable warmth.

Examples

1. お風呂に入って体が温まった。 I took a bath and my body warmed up.
2. このスープを飲むと心が温まる。 Drinking this soup warms the heart.
3. 部屋がやっと温まってきた。 The room has finally started to warm up.

Usage Guide

Context: weather, cooking, emotions

Tone: warm

Origin & History

From 温 (on/atata, warm/mild) with the godan intransitive ending -maru. The kanji 温 depicts water (氵) in a vessel (皿) warmed by the sun — gentle, comfortable heat.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal