とろける

と

ろ

け

る

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

とろける · ichidan verb

Meanings

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

melt; become soft or liquid

usually written using kana alone

Describes something solid becoming soft or liquid, often from heat. Commonly used for food like cheese or chocolate.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

usually written using kana alone

Figurative use: to be emotionally melted, charmed, or captivated by someone or something. Often used in romantic or aesthetic contexts.

〈物もの〉が口くちの中なかでとろけるfor something to melt smoothly in one's mouth
このチーズは口くちの中なかでとろける。
This cheese melts in your mouth.
〈物もの〉が熱ねつでとろけるfor something to melt from heat
チョコレートが熱ねつでとろけてしまった。
The chocolate melted from the heat.
心こころがとろけるfor one's heart to melt (with tenderness or delight)
彼かれの優やさしい言こと葉ばに心こころがとろけた。
My heart melted at his kind words.
〈人ひと〉の〈物もの〉にとろけるto be melted/charmed by someone's (smile, kindness, etc.)
彼かの女じょの笑え顔がおにとろけてしまう。
I get completely charmed by her smile.

蕩とろかす
蕩かす is the transitive form meaning to melt something or to captivate someone, while 蕩ける is intransitive, describing the thing itself melting or being captivated.

溶とけるN2sense 1
溶ける is the neutral, general word for melting or dissolving, while 蕩ける emphasizes a soft, gooey texture or an emotional melting feeling.
うっとりN2sense 2
うっとりする describes being entranced or lost in admiration, while 蕩ける figuratively likens that feeling to physically melting.

固かたまるN2sense 1
固まる means to harden or solidify, the opposite process to 蕩ける melting into softness.
冷さめるN3sense 2
冷める means to cool down or lose emotional warmth, contrasting with 蕩ける's sense of being emotionally melted or captivated.

とろけるUsage89%
Usually written in kana; the kanji forms 蕩ける and 盪ける are rare.
蕩とろけるUsage11%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; the kana spelling is strongly preferred.
溶とろけるUsage<1%
search-only kanji form
盪とろける
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; the kana spelling is strongly preferred.

The origin is uncertain; it may be related to the mimetic word とろとろ (sticky, syrupy). The kanji 蕩 and 盪 are rare ateji.