Translation guide
The process of something frozen becoming unfrozen, or the act of causing this. In Japanese, different words are used depending on what is thawing and whether it happens naturally or is done intentionally.
Describing ice, snow, or frozen ground melting naturally due to warmth.
General verb for ice, snow, or frost melting naturally. Intransitive.
Often used for snow and ice melting, but can also imply dissolving. Intransitive.
The snow on the road thawed and turned into puddles.
Defrosting or thawing frozen food, either naturally or using a microwave.
Standard term for defrosting or thawing frozen food. Transitive.
Please take the meat out of the freezer and thaw it.
Defrost in the microwave.
Thawing naturally at room temperature, often seen on food packaging.
Thaw naturally before eating.
To thaw something intentionally, often used for frozen food. Transitive. Less common than 解凍する.
Metaphorical thawing, such as relations between people becoming warmer or less tense.
General thawing of something that was frozen solid, like pipes or ground.
Used for frozen pipes, accounts, or assets becoming unfrozen.
The cold wave passed and the frozen water pipes thawed.
解ける (とける) is for ice, snow, and frost melting naturally. 溶ける (とける) can also be used for melting but often implies dissolving into liquid. 解凍する (かいとうする) is specifically for defrosting frozen food or thawing something intentionally, often with a microwave or water.
解凍する implies an intentional action, like using a microwave. For natural thawing of snow or ice, use 解ける or 溶ける.
Thaw frozen fish in water.
After the meeting, the tension thawed a little.