How to say “spicy” or “hot” in Japanese | 辛い (からい、karai) | い-Adjective

The Japanese vocabulary「辛い (からい、karai)」means “spicy” or “hot” and is an い-adjective. We will teach you the conjugation and the example sentences on this page.

Vocabulary Video

Please learn about the pronunciation before you learn the conjugations.

Dictionary & Plain Form, Polite Form

Key Word辛い辛いです
Hiraganaからいからいです
Romaji Readingkaraikarai desu
English Meaningspicy, hot
(Dictionary & Plain Form)
spicy, hot
(Polite Form)

This chili is very spicy.

この唐辛子とうがらしは、とても辛い。(Plain Form)
この唐辛子は、とても辛いです。(Polite Form)

ない Form (Negative & Plain Form)

Key Word辛くない
Hiraganaからくない
Romaji Readingkaraku nai
English Meaningnot spicy/hot
(Plain Form)

This chili is not spicy.

この唐辛子とうがらしは、辛くない。(Plain Form)

Negative & Polite Form

Key Word辛くないです辛くありません
Hiraganaからくないですからくありません
Romaji Readingkaraku nai desukaraku  arimasen
English Meaningnot spicy/hot
(Polite Form)
not spicy/hot
(Polite Form)

I got bit by a mosquito but it’s not itchy.

このスープは、辛くないです。(Polite Form)
このスープは、辛くありません。(Polite Form)

Past Tense & Positive

Key Word辛かった辛かったです
Hiraganaからかったからかったです
Romaji Readingkarakattakaratta desu
English Meaningwas spicy/hot
(Plain Form)
was spicy/hot
(Polite Form)

The curry I had at the Thai restaurant was spicy.

タイ料理りょうりレストランでべたカレーは辛かった。(Plain Form)
タイ料理レストランで食べたカレーは辛かったです。(Polite Form)


The cup noodles were very spicy.

そのカップめんは、とても辛かった。(Plain Form)
そのカップ麵は、とても辛かったです。(Polite Form)

Past Tense & Negative

Key Word辛くなかった
Hiraganaからくなかった
Romaji Readingkaraku nakatta
English Meaningwas not spicy/hot
(Plain Form)
辛くなかったです辛くありませんでした
からくなかったですからくありませんでした
kuraku nakatta desukaraku arimasen deshita
was not  spicy/hot
(Polite Form)
was not spicy/hot
(Polite Form)

The curry at that restaurant was not spicy.

あのレストランのカレーは辛くなかった。(Plain Form)
あのレストランのカレーは辛くなかったです。(Polite Form)
あのレストランのカレーは辛くありませんでした。(Polite Form)

て Form

Key Word辛くて
Hiraganaからくて
Romaji Readingkarakute
English MeaningN/A

The exact meaning is unclear without knowing the full sentence.


This dandan noodles is spicy and delicious.

この担々麵たんたんめんは辛くて美味おいしいです。(Polite Form)

Conditional Form & Positive

Key Word辛ければ
Hiraganaからければ
Romaji Readingkarakereba
English Meaningif ~ is spicy/hot

If the curry is too spicy, please try adding an apple.

もしカレーが辛ければ、リンゴをれてみてください。(Polite Form)

Conditional Form & Positive

Key Word辛くなければ
Hiraganaからくなければ
Romaji Readingkaraku nakereba
English Meaningif ~ is not spicy/hot

This child can eat curry as long as it is not spicy.

このは、辛くなければカレーがべられます。(Polite Form)

The literal translation of「この子」is “this child.” However, it actually indicates “my child.”

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い-Adjectives