How to Say ‘Hot water.’ in Japanese
お湯
o yu
[oh yoo]
💬 Usage Tip: [お湯] means hot (or warm) water. The [お] is an honorific prefix that makes it sound natural/polite.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Because bathing is a big deal, “no [お湯]” is treated as a real household emergency—especially in winter.
Phrase Breakdown
お
o
[oh]
(polite prefix) o-
Honorific prefix often used to make words more polite. Here it makes 「湯」 into 「お湯」 (hot water) in a natural, polite way.
お湯が出なくて困っています。
I'm having trouble because the hot water won't come out.
湯
yu
[yoo]
hot water
「湯」 means hot water (as opposed to 「水」 cold water). Common in bathrooms, showers, and water heaters.
湯が出ません。
The hot water doesn't come out.
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