Karai is the Japanese word for ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’, explained

What does “karai” mean in Japanese?

Native speakers say “karai” to mean ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’ in Japanese. Perhaps, some Japanese learners know this word as it is sometimes used in Japanese conversations. In this blog post, however, I will explain it together with its major conjugations. And also, I will explain how to use them through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to use “karai” more properly. Then, let’s get started!

Contents

• Definition and meanings of “karai”
  • Example #1: how to say “spicy” in Japanese
• Karakunai: the nai form of “karai”
  • Example #2: how to say “not spicy” in Japanese
• Karakatta: the ta form of “karai”
  • Example #3: how to say “was spicy” in Japanese
• Karakute: the te form of “karai”
  • Example #4: how to say “spicy and” in Japanese
• Karakereba: the ba form of “karai”
  • Example #5: how to say “if spicy” in Japanese
• Summary

Definition and meanings of “karai”

Let me start with the definition and meanings of “karai”.

• karai – 辛い (からい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’ in Japanese.

Native speakers use this i-adjective to describe a hot or spicy taste in Japanese.

The definition and meanings are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this i-adjective through the example sentence below.

Example #1: how to say “spicy” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “tabemono” to say “this food” in Japanese.
• tabemono – 食べ物 (たべもの) : a noun meaning ‘food’ or such in Japanese.
• wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kono tabemono” to make the subject in the sentence.

This is a typical usage of “karai”. In this example, it works as the complement in the sentence. Like other adjectives, however, it can also work as a modifier in front of a noun. For example, we can say “karai tabemono” to mean ‘spicy food’ in Japanese. It’s worth knowing, I think.

So far, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “karai” and how to use it through the example sentence. In the rest part of this blog post, I will explain its major conjugations. The first one is “karakunai”.

Karakunai: the nai form of “karai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “karakunai”.

• karakunai – 辛くない (からくない) : the nai form of “karai”, which means ‘not hot’ or ‘not spicy’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “karakunai” consists of the following two parts:

• karaku – 辛く (からく) : one conjugation of “karai”. This can have a smooth connection with “nai”.
• nai – ない : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to deny its meaning. Word orders in Japanese and English are different, but the role of this auxiliary verb is similar to that of “not”.

From these two parts, we can understand that “karakunai” is literally the nai form of “karai” and means ‘not hot’ or ‘not spicy’ in Japanese. Then, let me explain how to use this nai form through the example sentence below.

Example #2: how to say “not spicy” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• nihon – 日本 (にほん) : a noun meaning ‘Japan’ in Japanese.
• no – の : a case particle used to join two nouns. Normally, the first one can work as a modifier to describe the second. In the example, this is used to join “nihon” and “ryouri”. The formed phrase literally means ‘Japanese cuisine’ in Japanese.
• ryouri – 料理 (りょうり) : a noun meaning ‘cuisine’ or such in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “karakunai”. When we want to mean ‘not spicy’ in Japanese, this nai form is a good option.

Karakatta: the ta form of “karai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “karakatta”.

• karakatta – 辛かった (からかった) : the ta form of “karai”, which means ‘was hot’, ‘was spicy’, or such in Japanese.

Grammatically, “karakatta” consists of the following two parts:

• karakat – 辛かっ (からかっ) : one conjugation of “karai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ta”.
• ta – た : an auxiliary verb used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its past tense form. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese ta form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “karakatta” is literally the ta form of “karai” and means ‘was hot’, ‘was spicy’, or such in Japanese. Let me explain how to use this form through the example sentence below.

Example #3: how to say “was spicy” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• piza – ピザ (ぴざ) : a noun meaning ‘pizza’ in Japanese.
• totemo – とても : an adverb of degree meaning ‘very’, ‘much’, ‘so’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this works before “karakatta” to emphasize its meaning.

This is a typical usage of “karakatta”. When we want to use the past tense form of “karai”, this ta form is the best option.

Karakute: the te form of “karai”

Below are the definition and meanings of “karakute”.

• karakute – 辛くて (からくて) : the te form of “karai”, which means ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “karakute” consists of the following two parts:

• karaku – 辛く (からく) : one conjugation of “karai”. This can have a smooth connection with “te”.
• te – て : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its te form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “karakute” is literally the te form of “karai”. In Japanese, te-formed words have some important roles. One of them is make smooth connections of words. So, “karakute” is very useful when we want to use “karai” in front of another adjective, a verb, or an auxiliary verb. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #4: how to say “spicy and” in Japanese

Below is the new word used in the example sentence.

• oishii – 美味しい (おいしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘delicious’ in Japanese.

This is a typical usage of “karakute”. In the example, it has the smooth connection with “oishii”. When we want to use “karai” in front of another adjective like this, its te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.

Karakereba: the ba form of “karai”

Lastly, let me explain the definition and meanings of “karakereba”.

• karakereba – 辛ければ (からければ) : the ba form of “karai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’ in Japanese.

Grammatically, “karakereba” consists of the following two parts:

• karakere – 辛けれ (からけれ) : one conjugation of “karai”. This can have a smooth connection with “ba”.
• ba – ば : a conjunctive particle used after a verb, adjective, or auxiliary verb to make its ba form.

From these two parts, we can understand that “karakereba” is literally the ba form of “karai”. In Japanese, the ba forms of words can work as their conditional forms. So, we can use “karakereba” to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’. Let me explain this usage through the example sentence below.

Example #5: how to say “if spicy” in Japanese

Below are the new words used in the example sentence.

• ga – が : a case particle used to make the subject word or the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “tabemono” to make the subject in the conditional clause.
• kanojo – 彼女 (かのじょ) : a pronoun meaning ‘she’ in Japanese.
• namida – 涙 (なみだ) : a noun meaning ‘tear’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
• wo – を : a case particle used to make the object word in a sentence. In the example, this is used after “namida” to make the object in the second clause.
• nagasu – 流す (ながす) : a verb meaning ‘to let something stream’ or such in Japanese. In the example, this works as a part of the commonly-used phrase, “namida wo nagasu”, which literally means ‘to let tears stream’ in Japanese. It has been translated as just ‘to cry’, though.

This is a typical usage of “karakereba”. In this example, it works as a part of the conditional clause, “tabemono ga karakereba”, which means ‘if the food is spicy’ in Japanese. When we want to make a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’ in Japanese, this ba form is a good option.

Summary

In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “karai” together with its major conjugations. And also, I’ve explained how to use them through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.

• karai – 辛い (からい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’ in Japanese. This can work as both a modifier and a complement.
• karakunai – 辛くない (からくない) : the nai form of “karai”, which means ‘not hot’ or ‘not spicy’ in Japanese.
• karakatta – 辛かった (からかった) : the ta form of “karai”, which means ‘was hot’, ‘was spicy’, or such in Japanese.
• karakute – 辛くて (からくて) : the te form of “karai”, which means ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’ in Japanese. When we want to use “karai” in front of another adjective, this te form is very useful to make a smooth connection.
• karakereba – 辛ければ (からければ) : the ba form of “karai”, which makes a conditional clause in a sentence with adding the meaning of ‘hot’ or ‘spicy’ in Japanese.

Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.