How do you say "hot water" in Japanese?

お湯

oyu

Noun Kanji

In Japanese, "hot water" is お湯 (oyu).

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Pronunciation

お湯 is written using kanji. Romanised as oyu, it sounds roughly like "oh-yoo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Oyu combines the honorific prefix (o) with kanji for hot (湯). Hot water is essential to Japanese bathing and tea traditions.

Example sentence

新しいお湯を買いました。

Atarashii Oyu wo kaimashita.

I bought a new hot water.

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How to remember お湯

Hot (o-yu) water. Steaming water. Japanese people love hot baths and hot tea. Picture steam rising from the water.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more house words.

Questions about お湯

How do you pronounce お湯?

お湯 is romanised as oyu. Say it roughly like "oh-yoo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is お湯 formal or casual?

お湯 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 お湯 written in Japanese?

お湯 is written using kanji. Oyu combines the honorific prefix (o) with kanji for hot (湯).

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

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"Hot water" in other languages

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