Hi,
I just signed up for this language study and I am enjoying it very much. My question concerns the use of atatakai for hot coffee instead of using atsui. I looked it up in the dictionary and atatakai is defined as warm and atsui is hot. Is it more appropriate to use atatakai or can either be used?
thank you,
Michael
Atatakai or atsui?

beadle
August 20, 2009

Sayaka-Matsuura
August 20, 2009
Michael-san, Konnichiwa!
Welcome to Rocket Japanese :P It's a delight to have you join us in our Japanese-learning journey.
Your question is brilliant!
:idea: *Atsui* vs. *Atatakai*
Like you found out: The word for _hot_ is *atsui*. _Warm_ is : *atatakai*.
あたたかい *atatakai* is used to describe the 'temperature' of food and drinks or referring to feelings. And often implies a "pleasant" temperature/feeling.
*Atatakai ocha o kudasai.* :arrow: _A warm __(usually translated as "hot" in English)__ tea, please._
あつい *atsui* on the other hand is literally "hot" and used to describe a "hot day" - *Atsui hi.* which has a somewhat negative connotation - while, if you said, *Atatakai hi.* - it suggests a pleasant-warm day.

beadle
August 25, 2009
Sayakasan,
Thank you very much. I have another question. Getsu or Gatsu? Are both used for month?
Thank you,
Michael

CatPanda
August 26, 2009
The same kanji (月) is used and you can type げつ or がつ and hit the space bar and 月 is the only option besides katakana or hiragana.
However, 月 by itself is month and is pronounced がつ(gatsu). So like 8月 is はちがつ(hachi gatsu) or the 8th month and thus August in English.
月曜日 is monday or げつ ようび(getsu youbi). 月=げつ(getsu) 曜=よう(you) 日=び(bi)
月(getsu)is the *mon* of *mon*day. and 曜日(youbi) is the *day* of mon*day*
In conclusion getsu is used for monday. Gatsu is used for month.
分かりましたか?(わかりましたか)wakarimashitaka?
Do you understand?
それではまね。
デレック

beadle
August 26, 2009
Thank you for your reply.
In lesson 1.4 the following phrase is used:
Arigatō. Ikka getsu benkyō shite imasu.
The translation given for ikka getsu is one month.
That is why I am confused hence my question, getsu or gatsu for month.
Thank you,
Michael

CatPanda
August 26, 2009
そうですか。。。
soudesuka...
(Is that so...)
面白いですね。。。
omoshiroidesune...
(Interesting...)
Hmm... That's what I've remembered it as... and what all my Japanese to English dictionaries say... Potentially it could be interchangeable but I've been told by many resources its gatsu for month and getsu for monday... But they could be wrong so I'm sure Sayaka can clear it up... So in advance... さやかさん、どもうありがとう!
デレック