Translation guide
The English verb "melt" covers several distinct physical and emotional processes. In Japanese, different verbs are used depending on what is melting and how. This guide breaks down the main meanings and their natural Japanese equivalents.
To change from solid to liquid due to heat.
Intransitive verb for solids melting or dissolving. Used for ice, butter, chocolate, metal, etc. This is the most common general-purpose word.
氷が溶けた。
The ice melted.
バターがフライパンで溶けた。
The butter melted in the frying pan.
Transitive verb: to melt something. Use when someone causes the melting.
バターを溶かしてください。
Please melt the butter.
Same reading as 溶ける, but specifically for metals or solids melting under high heat. Often written in kanji in technical contexts.
鉄は高温で融ける。
Iron melts at high temperatures.
To become incorporated into a liquid and form a solution.
Also used for dissolving. Context usually makes the meaning clear.
砂糖がコーヒーに溶けた。
The sugar dissolved in the coffee.
Transitive: to dissolve something.
To gradually disappear or diminish.
General verb for disappearing. Natural for emotions, crowds, etc.
To blend in and disappear into surroundings. Often used for people or things becoming part of a background.
For emotions softening or calming down. 'Melt' as in 'heart melts' or 'tension melts'.
To feel affection, sympathy, or to be moved emotionally.
Literally 'heart melts'. Common expression for being emotionally moved or charmed.
彼女の笑顔を見て心が溶けた。
My heart melted when I saw her smile.
Literally 'chest becomes warm'. Used when deeply moved or touched.
その話を聞いて胸が熱くなった。
I felt my heart melt hearing that story.
To merge or blend smoothly with something else.
To melt into and become part of something. Used for blending into environments, groups, or physically merging.
新しい学校に溶け込むのは難しかった。
It was hard to melt into the new school.
To become one with; to integrate completely. More formal.
彼の声は音楽と一体化した。
His voice melted into the music.
溶ける (とける) is the general word for melting or dissolving. 融ける (とける) is specifically for metals or solids melting under high heat, often used in technical contexts. 解ける (とける) means to come undone, be solved, or be untied, and is not used for melting.
While 心が溶ける is a set phrase, using 溶ける alone for emotions can sound odd. Use 消える for disappearing emotions or 和らぐ for softening.
怒りが消えた。
My anger melted away.
雪がすぐに溶けた。
The snow melted quickly.
彼の優しい言葉に彼女の心は溶けた。
She melted at his kind words.
魔女は空気に溶け込んだ。
The witch melted into thin air.
Dissolve salt in water.
彼は闇に溶け込んだ。
He melted into the darkness.
彼の笑顔で緊張が和らいだ。
His smile melted the tension.