1Having a hot, spicy flavor that causes a burning or piquant sensation (e.g., from chili peppers).
このカレーは辛いから、牛乳を少し入れて食べた。
This curry is spicy, so I added a little milk before eating it.
辛いラーメンを食べたら汗が止まらなかった。
After eating the spicy ramen, I couldn't stop sweating.
唐辛子を入れすぎて料理が辛くなった。
I put in too many chili peppers and the dish became very spicy.
2Tasting salty; having a strong saltiness.
塩を入れすぎてスープが辛くなってしまった。
I added too much salt and the soup turned out salty.
古い漬物は辛くてそのままでは食べられないことがある。
Old pickles can be so salty that you can't eat them as is.
このソースは辛いというよりしょっぱく感じる。
This sauce tastes more salty than spicy to me.
3Harsh or strict in judging, grading, or evaluating others (e.g., a strict grader, a harsh critic). Distinct from つらい, which describes one's own emotional suffering — this sense describes being severe toward others.
彼は点数に辛い先生で、なかなかいい成績をもらえない。
He's a teacher who grades harshly, so it's hard to get good marks.
母は自分に辛く、他人には優しい人だ。
My mother is strict with herself but kind to others.
審査員はどのチームにも辛い評価をつけた。
The judges gave every team a harsh evaluation.
4Means "painful, distressing, hard to bear" — but in real usage this meaning is read つらい, not からい (see 辛い・つらい). Genuine examples of this sense with the からい reading are essentially unattested.