Meaning and Usage
The adjective 太い (ふとい) primarily means "thick" or "fat" and is used to describe objects or body parts that have a large diameter or width. It can refer to physical thickness, such as a thick pen or a thick tree trunk, and also to qualities like a deep or thick voice.
Common Collocations
- 太い線 (ふといせん): thick line, often used in drawing or writing.
- 太い声 (ふといこえ): deep or thick voice, describing vocal quality.
- 太い木の幹 (ふといきのみき): thick tree trunk, indicating size and age.
Register and Nuance
太い is a neutral adjective used in everyday conversation. It is not particularly formal or informal. When describing people, it can mean "fat" but is less commonly used for politeness reasons; other words like 太っている are more common for describing body weight.
Common Learner Mistake
Learners sometimes confuse 太い with 太っている. 太い is an adjective describing thickness or width, while 太っている is a verb phrase meaning "to be fat" or "to have gained weight." Use 太い for objects or body parts' thickness, and 太っている when talking about a person's body size.
Summary
Use 太い to describe thickness or largeness in diameter for objects and sometimes body parts. It is versatile and appears in many everyday contexts, from describing pens and trees to voices. Remember the distinction from 太っている when referring to people’s body weight.