boil

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 沸 has 8 strokes and describes boiling water or a surge of excitement.
• Basic usage: 沸く is read わく, and 沸かす is read わかす.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Boiling and causing water to boil
  • 湯が沸いたら gives the condition ‘when the water boils.’
  • 湯を沸かした describes someone boiling water, marking what is heated with を.
• Interpretation depends on the subject or object
  • 風呂を沸かす is used for heating bathwater.
  • 会場が沸いた means the venue erupted in excitement, not that the place physically boiled.