How to say "burn" in Japanese

• 焼くやくJLPT N4approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTransitive: fire or strong heat is applied to something. Grilling, baking and toasting are typical uses, but the verb also covers burning things in a fire, so its range goes beyond cooking.
• 燃えるもえるJLPT N3approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbIntransitive: something itself catches fire and burns — the thing burns, rather than having fire applied to it. Also figurative: a person gets fired up, burning with enthusiasm or determination.
  火ひがぼんぼん燃もえている。↗

  The fire is burning furiously.
• 焼けるやけるJLPT N4approx.Common
  ichidan verb, intransitive verbIntransitive: something burns or is burnt, often with the result in view — a house or district burning down, food scorching or cooking through on the heat. The counterpart of 焼く.
• 燃やすもやすJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbTransitive: you burn something — set fire to it or burn it as fuel. The transitive counterpart of 燃える, and like it figurative too: to stoke one's ambition or fighting spirit.
  このガラクタは火ひに燃もやしなさい。↗

  Burn this rubbish on the fire.
• 焚くたくJLPT N2approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbIts core is making a fire — kindling or lighting one in a stove or hearth for warmth or cooking. As a rendering of 'burn' it is marginal: think 'light a fire'.
  とても寒さむかったので火ひをたいた。↗

  It was so cold that we made a fire.

Choose mainly by transitivity and focus: 「燃える」 for something burning by itself, 「燃やす」 for burning something, 「焼く」 and 「焼ける」 for heat applied to things, in cooking or in burning, and 「焚く」 for making a fire.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 焼くやくto burn
• 燃えるもえるto burn
• 焼けるやけるto burn
• 燃やすもやすto burn
• 焚くたくto burn
• 焦げるこげるto burn
• やけどburn
• 焦がすこがすto burn
• 焼き上げるやきあげるto burn
• 火傷かしょうburn
• 焦げこげscorching
• 火照るほてるto feel hot
• 熱傷ねっしょうburn
• 焼け付くやけつくto burn
• 身を焼くみをやくto burn (with jealousy, desire, etc.)
• 薫くたくto burn (usu. incense)
• くゆらすto smoke (e.g. a pipe)
• 灼くやくto tan (i.e. suntan)
• くべるto put (wood, coal, paper, etc.) into the fire
• 差すさすto light (a fire)
• なめるto lick (at; of flames)