太る

• Reading: ふとる
• Romaji: futoru
• Kanji breakdown: 太 (futo) — fat, thick, big; る (ru) — godan verb ending
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.to.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To put on weight; to gain weight; to grow fat. Describes the process of becoming heavier.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb. The opposite is 痩せる (to lose weight). The past form 太った is often used as an adjective meaning 'fat/overweight.' Can be sensitive in conversation — Japanese culture tends to be quite direct about weight, but learners should be mindful of context.

Examples

1. 冬は運動しないので太りやすい。 In winter, I don't exercise, so it's easy to gain weight.
2. 甘いものを毎日食べたら太ってしまった。 I ate sweets every day and ended up putting on weight.
3. 太らないように食事に気をつけている。 I'm watching what I eat so I don't gain weight.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, health, diet

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 太 depicts a person (大) with an extra stroke suggesting fullness or largeness, conveying the idea of becoming big or stout.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal