Meaning and Usage
The verb 溶かす (とかす) means "to melt" or "to dissolve" something by applying heat or mixing it into a liquid. It is a transitive verb, so it always takes a direct object — the thing being melted or dissolved.
Common Contexts
溶かす is often used in cooking, chemistry, or everyday situations involving ice, sugar, chocolate, or other substances that change state when heated or mixed.
Collocations and Patterns
- チョコレートを溶かす: to melt chocolate, common in cooking or baking.
- 氷を溶かす: to melt ice, often in drinks or weather contexts.
- 砂糖を溶かす: to dissolve sugar, usually in water or tea.
Register and Nuance
This verb is neutral and commonly used in both casual and formal contexts. It is more specific than simply saying 溶ける (to melt/dissolve by itself), as 溶かす implies an agent actively causing the melting or dissolving.
Common Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 溶かす (transitive) with 溶ける (とける, intransitive). Remember, 溶かす requires a direct object and means "to melt/dissolve something," while 溶ける means "something melts/dissolves" on its own.