Japanese for Beginners: Seasons, “Atsui” Kanji Differences, and Summer Fun

Advanced Level

Hello, this is Miyabi.

Let’s enjoy learning Japanese today with Japan Phrase Adventure.


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Today’s theme: Summer in Japan

You can watch the video here:

Below, I will explain the words and sentences that appear in the video.

1. Let’s learn Japanese words for the seasons.

春(はる haru) = Spring (March to May)

夏(なつ natsu) = Summer (June to August)

秋(あき aki) = Autumn (September to November)

冬(ふゆ fuyu) = Winter (December to February)

2. 夏 は 暑い

夏(なつ natsu) = summer

は (wa) = topic marker (marks the topic of the sentence)

暑い(あつい atsui) = hot (when talking about weather or climate)

Sentence meaning: “Summer is hot.”

Word notes for あつい (atsui)

The word atsui can be written with different kanji depending on the meaning:

1.暑い(あつい atsui) → hot (weather)

・Example: 今日は 暑い(きょう は あつい kyou wa atsui)= Today is hot.

・Example: 服 を たくさん 着ている ので 暑い(ふく を たくさん きている ので あつい fuku o takusan kiteiru node atsui)= I’m hot because I’m wearing many clothes.

2.熱い(あつい atsui) → hot (temperature of objects or body)

・Example: お茶 が 熱い(おちゃ が あつい ocha ga atsui)= The tea is hot.

・Example: 熱 が ある のか おでこ が 熱い(ねつ が ある のか おでこ が あつい netsu ga aru no ka odek o ga atsui)= My forehead is hot, maybe I have a fever.

3.厚い(あつい atsui) → thick (objects, layers)

・ Example: 厚い 本(あつい ほん atsui hon)= a thick book.

・Example: この 紙 は 厚い(この かみ は あつい kono kami wa atsui)= This paper is thick.

・Example: この 服 は 生地 が 厚い(この ふく は きじ が あつい kono fuku wa kiji ga atsui)= This clothing has thick fabric.


💡 Fun fact: Japanese summer is extremely hot and humid. Even people from countries with 40°C summers say that Japan feels hotter because of the humidity.


3. 夏 は 暑い けど 楽しい

けど (kedo) = but, although

楽しい(たのしい tanoshii) = fun, enjoyable

Sentence meaning: “Summer is hot, but fun.”

How to use 楽しい(たのしい tanoshii)

・Polite example: 今日は 楽しかった です。ありがとうございました(きょう は たのしかった です。ありがとうございました kyou wa tanoshikatta desu. arigatou gozaimashita)= “Today was fun. Thank you very much.”

・Casual example: 「この ゲーム、楽しい? 」「楽しい よ」(この げーむ、たのしい? たのしい よ kono geemu, tanoshii? tanoshii yo)= “Is this game fun?” “Yes, it’s fun.”

4. 花火(はなび hanabi) = fireworks

5. 家 で する 花火 も 楽しい

家(いえ ie) = house, home

で (de) = particle indicating location of an action

する (suru) = to do

花火(はなび hanabi) = fireworks

も (mo) = also

楽しい(たのしい tanoshii) = fun

Sentence meaning: “Fireworks at home are also fun.”

Application example:

If you change the words, you can make:

海 で する バーベキュー は 楽しい(うみ で する ばーべきゅー は たのしい umi de suru baabekyuu wa tanoshii)

Meaning: “A barbecue at the beach is fun.”

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