Translation guide
The English word "steep" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses: describing a sharp slope, a high price, soaking something in liquid, and a rapid change. Each meaning has different natural Japanese expressions.
Describing a surface, hill, stairs, or path that rises or falls sharply.
The most common and versatile adjective for a steep slope, stairs, or incline. Used attributively (急な坂) or predicatively (この坂は急だ).
この坂はとても急ですね。
This hill is very steep, isn't it?
Climbing steep stairs is tough.
Implies a steep and rugged or dangerous terrain, like a mountain path. Often used for natural landscapes.
険しい山道を登った。
We climbed a steep mountain trail.
Describes a sheer, almost vertical cliff or wall. More dramatic than 急な.
切り立った崖の上に立っていた。
We stood on the edge of a steep cliff.
Saying that a price, fee, or cost is unreasonably or surprisingly high.
The standard word for 'expensive'. It covers 'steep' in the sense of high cost. Often used with 値段 (price).
このレストランは値段が高い。
This restaurant is steep (expensive).
家賃が高すぎる。
The rent is too steep.
Means 'exorbitant price', emphasizing that it is unreasonably high. Stronger than just 高い.
そのホテルは法外な値段を請求してきた。
That hotel charged a steep (exorbitant) price.
Slang for a rip-off or price gouging. Implies the price is unfairly steep.
Putting something (tea, herbs, clothes) into liquid to extract flavor or to clean/soften.
Transitive verb meaning 'to soak/steep something in liquid'. Used for tea, vegetables, or laundry.
紅茶の葉をお湯に浸す。
Steep the tea leaves in hot water.
汚れたシャツを水に浸しておいた。
I steeped the dirty shirt in water.
Specifically for steeping/brewing by boiling to extract flavor, like tea or stock.
出汁を昆布で煮出す。
Steep the broth with kelp (by simmering).
Common everyday phrase for 'make tea', which inherently includes steeping. More natural than a direct translation of 'steep tea'.
お茶を入れましょうか？
Shall I steep some tea? (lit. make tea)
Describing a sharp increase or decrease in numbers, rates, or trends.
Adjectival noun meaning 'rapid, drastic, steep'. Used for changes in graphs, prices, population, etc.
株価が急激に下落した。
Stock prices fell steeply.
急激な人口増加が問題になっている。
The steep population increase is becoming a problem.
Same word as for slope, but can also mean 'sudden/steep' for changes. Less formal than 急激な.
急な気温の変化に注意してください。
Please be careful of the steep temperature change.
While 急な means 'steep' for slopes and changes, it does not mean 'expensive'. For steep prices, use 高い or 法外な.
浸す (ひたす) is for steeping/soaking in liquid, often for a shorter time or to extract flavor. 漬ける (つける) is for pickling or marinating food, often for longer preservation. For tea, 浸す is correct; for pickles, use 漬ける.
その道は自転車には急すぎる。
The path is too steep for a bicycle.
その講座の値段はちょっと高い。
The price of the course is a bit steep.
紅茶を3分間浸してください。
Steep the tea for three minutes.
That shop is a rip-off (their prices are steep).