辛い

• Reading: からい
• Romaji: karai
• Kanji breakdown: 辛 (kara/shin) — spicy, hot, painful
• Pronunciation: /ka.ɾa.i/

Meaning

Spicy; hot. Describes the pungent heat of food like chili peppers and wasabi.

An i-adjective describing spicy or hot food. Note that the same kanji 辛い has a different reading つらい (tsurai) meaning painful or difficult — context and pronunciation distinguish the two. When talking about food, it is always からい. Conjugates regularly: 辛くない, 辛かった.

Examples

1. このカレーは少し辛いです。 This curry is a little spicy.
2. 辛い食べ物は食べられません。 I can't eat spicy food.
3. もう少し辛くしてください。 Please make it a bit spicier.

Usage Guide

Context: food, taste, restaurants

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 辛 originally depicted a sharp cutting tool, suggesting something piercing or biting — like a sharp flavor on the tongue.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal