Translation guide
The concept of heating in Japanese can be expressed through various words and phrases depending on what is being heated, the method, and the context. This guide covers common ways to talk about heating rooms, food, water, and more.
暖房をつけてください。
Turn on the heating.
食べ物を温めてください。
Heat up the food.
To warm up a space, such as a room or house, using a heater or heating system.
The general term for space heating or a heating system. Often used for central heating or the act of heating a room.
暖房をつけてください。
Please turn on the heating.
この部屋は暖房が効いている。
This room is heated (the heating is working).
Literally 'to warm up a room'. A more direct way to say you are heating a room.
エアコンで部屋を暖めています。
I'm heating the room with the air conditioner.
Refers to a space heater, often a kerosene or electric heater. Not the same as a cooking stove.
To warm up food or beverages, such as leftovers or a cold drink.
To heat water for tea, bath, or cooking.
Specifically for boiling water or heating a liquid until it boils.
Referring to heating in a technical, industrial, or abstract sense.
The noun form for 'heating' as a process, often used in technical or scientific contexts.
To warm one's body, often by external means.
暖房 (danbou) is specifically for space heating, while 加熱 (kanetsu) is a general term for applying heat, often used in cooking or industrial contexts.
暖房 is only for heating rooms or buildings. Using it for food would sound strange. Use 温める instead.
ストーブで暖を取る。
To warm oneself by the heater.
The most common verb for heating up food or drink. Can be used for microwaving, reheating, etc.
スープを温めてください。
Please heat up the soup.
電子レンジでご飯を温める。
To heat up rice in the microwave.
A more technical term for applying heat, often used in cooking instructions or scientific contexts.
加熱してからお召し上がりください。
Please heat before eating.
Slang for microwaving, derived from the 'ding' sound. Very casual.
これ、ちょっとチンしてくれる？
Can you nuke this for a sec?
お湯を沸かしてください。
Please boil some water.
Can also be used for warming water without necessarily boiling it.
お風呂のお湯を温める。
To heat up the bath water.
加熱処理を行う。
To perform heat treatment.
To heat something, often used in cooking or chemistry.
フライパンを熱して油をひく。
Heat the frying pan and add oil.
A set phrase meaning 'to warm oneself', often by a fire or heater.
焚き火で暖を取る。
To warm oneself by the campfire.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to get warm', used for one's body or a room.
お風呂に入って温まった。
I warmed up in the bath.