太い

• Reading: ふとい
• Romaji: futoi
• Kanji breakdown: 太 (futo/tai/ta) — thick, fat, big
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.to.i/

Meaning

Fat; thick. Describes something with a large diameter or circumference.

An i-adjective used for objects that are thick or wide in girth: tree trunks, pens, ropes, arms, and similar items. The antonym is 細い (thin, slender). Note that for describing a person as overweight, 太っている (futotte iru) is used rather than 太い directly. Conjugates regularly: 太くない, 太かった, 太くなかった.

Examples

1. あの木はとても太いです。 That tree trunk is really thick.
2. 太いペンで名前を書いてください。 Please write your name with a thick pen.
3. 父の腕は太くて強いです。 My dad's arms are thick and strong.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, descriptions, physical attributes

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 太 is a variant of 大 (big) with an added dot, emphasising fullness or thickness.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal