燗
warming sake
Readings
On'yomi
- ラン
- カン
Kun'yomi
- かん.する
Meaning
燗 centers on applying gentle heat to sake to bring out its flavor and warmth. The meaning is specific to warming sake.
Most common words using 燗
- 燗かん
warming up sake; warmed sake
- 熱燗あつかん
hot sake
- 燗酒かんざけ
warmed sake
- ぬる燗ぬるかん
warmed sake (to around forty degrees Celsius)
- 上燗じょうかん
moderately heated sake
- 人肌燗ひとはだかん
sake warmed to human body temperature (approx. 37 degrees C)
- 燗をつけるかんをつける
to warm up sake
- 燗冷ましかんざまし
leftover sake (which has cooled)
- 燗徳利かんどくり
bottle used for warming sake
- 燗番かんばん
person in charge of warming sake in a bar
Study
Etymology
燗 combines 火 (fire) with 閒, which likely contributes the sound and the idea of a gap or interval, suggesting the controlled application of heat. The exact historical development of the compound is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is fire 火, and the right side 閒 looks like a gate 門 with a moon 月 inside. Picture a gate to a cozy room where a fire gently warms sake under the moonlight.
Reading mnemonic
For ラン, imagine running a warm sake bottle under a gentle flame: run -> ラン, and the fire warms the sake.