What does 太 mean in Japanese?
太 means “thick” or “fat.” You will see it in 太い (futoi, thick) and 太る (futoru, to gain weight).
It also appears in 太陽 (taiyou), the sun.
Reading
On’yomi: タイ (tai), タ (ta)
Kun’yomi: ふと-い (futo-i), ふと-る (futo-ru)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 太 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | thick, fat |
| Stroke Count | 4 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
太い describes the width of long, narrow things, such as a thick line, a thick rope, or thick legs. For flat things such as a thick book or a thick coat, Japanese uses 厚い (atsui) instead. 太る means “to gain weight,” and the state of being heavy is usually 太っている (futotte iru).
Common Words
- 太い（ふとい / futoi） — thick (lines, long objects)
- 太る（ふとる / futoru） — to gain weight
- 太陽（たいよう / taiyou） — the sun
- 太平洋（たいへいよう / taiheiyou） — the Pacific Ocean
- 太字（ふとじ / futoji） — bold type
- 太もも（ふともも / futomomo） — thigh
Example Sentences
-
冬休みに少し太りました。
ふゆやすみにすこしふとりました。 / Fuyuyasumi ni sukoshi futorimashita.
I gained a little weight over the winter break.
-
太陽が出て、暖かくなりました。
たいようがでて、あたたかくなりました。 / Taiyou ga dete, atatakaku narimashita.
The sun came out, and it got warmer.
-
道に太い線が引いてあります。
みちにふといせんがひいてあります。 / Michi ni futoi sen ga hiite arimasu.
There is a thick line drawn on the road.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
太 looks like 大 (big) with one extra dot at the bottom, and 犬 (dog) has its dot at the top right, so check where the dot is. Comments about another person’s weight, such as 太りましたね, can sound rude. Be careful when using 太る to describe someone else.
Summary
Use 太い for thick lines and objects, 太る for gaining weight, and remember 太 in 太陽, the sun.
Want to study more JLPT N4 kanji by theme? See our JLPT N4 Kanji Study List.