“重い・重たい” “眠い・眠たい” – How to Differentiate Similar Adjectives
Table of Contents
1. “重い・重たい” “眠い・眠たい” – How to Differentiate Similar Adjectives
2. 重い VS 重たい
3. 眠い VS 眠たい
4. “〜い” to Express a State VS “〜たい” to Include Emotion or Discomfort
5. Summary
6. Similer Articles
7. Comment
Q: What’s the difference between “重い” and “重たい”?
A: Both “重い” and “重たい” mean “heavy,” but there’s a subtle difference in how they’re felt and used. Understanding this distinction can also help you grasp similar adjective pairs like “眠い” and “眠たい,” and appreciate the delicate nuances of the Japanese language.
重い VS 重たい
[Meaning of “重い”]
Indicates that something has weight. It’s a neutral expression used to convey facts or states, and is often used when describing situations or making comparisons.
[Examples]
このかばんは重いです。
This bag is heavy.
鉄は木より重い素材です。
Iron is a heavier material than wood.
荷物が重いからエレベーターを使いましょう。
The luggage is heavy, so let’s use the elevator.
[Meaning of “重たい”]
Like “重い,” it refers to physical weight, but also includes a subjective feeling or physical sensation such as “it’s hard to carry” or “it feels burdensome.”
[Examples]
このスーツケース、重たくて腕がちぎれそう…。
This suitcase is so heavy, it feels like my arm is going to fall off.
雨に濡れた服が重たく感じます。
Wet clothes feel heavy.
荷物が重たくて階段を上るのがつらいです。
The luggage is so heavy that it’s hard to climb the stairs.
眠い VS 眠たい
This kind of distinction between “重い” and “重たい” can also be seen in other adjective pairs. For example, “眠い” and “眠たい” are one such pair.
[Meaning of “眠い”] A state of feeling sleepy. It conveys a relatively objective sense and suggests that the sleepiness is still manageable.
[Examples]
会議中だけど、ちょっと眠いな…。
I’m in a meeting, but I feel a bit sleepy.
まだ9時なのに、もう眠いです。
It’s only 9 o’clock, but I’m already sleepy.
眠いときは運転しないほうがいいですよ。
You shouldn’t drive when you’re sleepy.
[Meaning of “眠たい”]
A state of strong sleepiness, as if you could fall asleep at any moment. It conveys a subjective feeling and gives the impression that the sleepiness is overwhelming and hard to endure.
[Examples]
今日はすごく忙しかったから、目が開かないほど眠たいです。
I was so busy today that I’m sleepy to the point I can’t keep my eyes open.
昨日一睡もできなくて、本当に眠たいよ。
I didn’t sleep at all last night, and I’m seriously sleepy.
子どもが「眠たい〜」とぐずり出しました。
The child started whining, saying “I’m sleepy…”
*“眠たい,” like “重たい,” also carries a sense of personal feeling or limitation toward the state itself.
“〜い” to Express a State VS “〜たい” to Include Emotion or Discomfort
As seen here, adjectives ending in “〜い” are used to describe a state objectively and tend to have a relatively neutral quality. In contrast, adjectives ending in “〜たい” are characterized by a subjective feeling — the state is often perceived as painful, intense, or hard to endure.
Similar distinctions can be found in other adjective pairs as well.
| Pair | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 煙い (smoky) | A state where there is smoke. |
| 煙たい (smoky and suffocating / unpleasantly smoky) | A state where there is smoke that causes discomfort or a feeling of suffocation. |
| Pair | Meaning |
|---|---|
| うざい (annoying / irritating) | Annoying or bothersome. |
| うざったい (extremely annoying / emotionally aggravating) | A stronger sense of irritation or emotional reaction. |
Summary
[〜い]
- Describes a state objectively. A relatively neutral and descriptive expression.
[〜たい]
- Includes a subjective feeling that the state is painful, strongly felt, or hard to endure.
Similer Articles
- Must-Know for Foreigners Working in Japan: Do You Really Need a Hanko (Personal Seal)?
- Differences in Parts of Speech between Japanese and English②
- Differences in Parts of Speech between Japanese and English①
- Learning the Forms of Japanese from Classical Literature
- Idioms Using “頭” ② – Useful in Everyday Conversations
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