How do you say "heavy" in Japanese?

重い

Omoi

Adjective Kanji

In Japanese, "heavy" is 重い (Omoi).

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Pronunciation

重い is written using kanji. Romanised as Omoi, it sounds roughly like "oh-moh-ee" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Omoi (重い) is an i-adjective for heavy weight or serious matters. It describes both physical weight and heavy topics, burdensome feelings, or serious illness.

Example sentence

このカバンはとても重いです。

Kono kaban wa totemo omoi desu.

This bag is very heavy.

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How to remember 重い

The kanji 重 looks stacked and layered, suggesting heaviness and weight. Picture something pressing down with multiple layers.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese adjectives.

Questions about 重い

How do you pronounce 重い?

重い is romanised as Omoi. Say it roughly like "oh-moh-ee" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 重い formal or casual?

重い is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 重い written in Japanese?

重い is written using kanji. Omoi (重い) is an i-adjective for heavy weight or serious matters.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Heavy" in other languages

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