Translation guide
This guide covers how to express 'heat up' in Japanese, focusing on warming food, drinks, rooms, and objects, as well as figurative uses like intensifying situations.
To make food or a drink hot, typically using a microwave, stove, or other heat source.
The most common and general verb for warming up food or drinks. Can be used for leftovers, soup, sake, etc.
残り物を電子レンジで温めてください。
Please heat up the leftovers in the microwave.
スープを温めましょうか？
Shall I heat up the soup?
Casual, onomatopoeic verb meaning to microwave something. Very common in daily conversation.
これ、ちょっとチンしてくれる？
Can you heat this up in the microwave for a bit?
To heat something, often used in cooking or technical contexts. Implies applying direct heat.
フライパンで油を熱してください。
Heat the oil in a frying pan.
To increase the temperature of a room, building, or enclosed area.
Specifically for warming a room or space. Note the kanji 暖 (warmth) vs. 温 for food.
エアコンで部屋を暖めましょう。
Let's heat up the room with the air conditioner.
Literally 'turn on the heater'. The most natural way to say 'heat up the room' in many contexts.
寒いので暖房をつけてもいいですか？
It's cold, so can I turn on the heater?
To make one's body or a body part warm, often after being cold.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to get warm'. Used for the body warming up naturally or by an external source.
お風呂に入って体が温まりました。
I took a bath and my body warmed up.
Transitive verb; you warm up a specific body part.
To describe something becoming hot, like the weather, an engine, or a device.
General phrase for 'become hot'. Used for weather, objects, etc.
これから天気が熱くなります。
The weather will heat up from now on.
Technical term for heating, often used in science or engineering.
この装置は加熱すると危険です。
This device is dangerous when heated up.
To make a situation, debate, or competition more intense or exciting.
Intransitive; for situations becoming intense. Often used for competition, arguments, etc.
試合がだんだん激しくなってきた。
The game is heating up.
Can also mean 'get passionate/heated', especially for people's emotions.
議論が熱くなってきた。
The debate is heating up.
Loanword from English 'heat up', used for situations, emotions, or competition becoming intense.
選挙戦がヒートアップしている。
The election campaign is heating up.
Both read あたためる. 温める is for warming objects, food, or body parts. 暖める is for warming a room or atmosphere. The kanji difference reflects the type of warmth.
When describing food that is hot (temperature), use 熱い (あつい). But for 'heating up' food, use 温める, not 熱する. 熱する implies applying high heat, often in cooking.
手をこすって温めました。
I rubbed my hands together to warm them up.