焼く・燬く・焚く|やくyaku[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
焼く焼く is the most common form and the default choice for beginners. Its mixed kanji-and-kana spelling is the form learners should use.
燬く燬く is less common than 焼く and uses an outdated kanji, so learners should normally choose 焼く instead.
焚く焚く is less common than 焼く and uses an outdated kanji, so learners should normally choose 焼く instead.
Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto burn
- godan verb, transitive verbto roast; to broil; to grill; to bake; to toast; to barbecue
- godan verb, transitive verbto heat; to heat up
- godan verb, transitive verbto make (charcoal, pottery, bricks, etc.); to bake; to fire; to burn
- godan verb, transitive verbto tan (i.e. suntan); to burn
- godan verb, transitive verbto print (a photo); to burn (an optical disc)
- godan verb, transitive verbto be jealous of; to be envious of; to envy
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 焼く（やく） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 焼きます（やきます） |
| Negative (nai) | 焼かない（やかない） |
| polite (masen) | 焼きません（やきません） |
| classical zu / nu | 焼かず・焼かぬ（やかず・やかぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 焼いた（やいた） |
| polite (mashita) | 焼きました（やきました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 焼かなかった（やかなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 焼きませんでした（やきませんでした） |
| Te form | 焼いて（やいて） |
| Potential | 焼ける（やける） |
| Passive | 焼かれる（やかれる） |
| Causative | 焼かせる（やかせる） |
| Causative passive | 焼かせられる・焼かされる（やかせられる・やかされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 焼けば（やけば） |
| tara | 焼いたら（やいたら） |
| Volitional | 焼こう（やこう） |
| polite (mashou) | 焼きましょう（やきましょう） |
| Imperative | 焼け（やけ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
肉が焼ける
肉を焼く
焼ける focuses on the meat undergoing the process of being cooked/grilled, while 焼く highlights the action of someone cooking/grilling the meat.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym燃やすもやすNeutralFor making things burn, as in 「ごみを燃やす」; it can also mean firing up passion. Unlike 「焼く」, it does not cover cooking food.
- Synonym焚くたくNeutralFor building a fire and heating: burning wood or heating bath water, as in 「焚き火を焚く」 and 「風呂を焚く」; the emphasis is on making a fire for heat.
- Synonym焼き上げるやきあげるNeutralBaking or roasting something through to the finished state, as in 「パンを焼き上げる」; the emphasis is on completion.
- Related焦がすこがすNeutralScorching or burning something, as in 「鍋を焦がす」; the focus is on charring black from too much heat. It can also describe anguishing over something.
- Related炒るいるNeutralPan-roasting to drive off moisture, as in 「ごまを炒る」; the emphasis is on toasting in a pan rather than over a direct flame.
- RelatedローストNeutralA loanword for roasting meat or coffee beans, as in 「ローストビーフ」; use it for these foods in place of 「焼く」.
- RelatedあぶるNeutralLightly grilling something over a flame, as in 「海苔をあぶる」; the emphasis is on just a quick, light toasting.
- RelatedくべるWrittenA written, formal word for putting wood or paper into a fire, as in 「薪をくべる」; the emphasis is on adding fuel to the flames.
- Related焙じるほうじるNeutralRoasting tea leaves and the like to bring out their aroma and drive off moisture, as in 「ほうじ茶」; 「焼く」 is much broader in use.
- Related焙ずるほうずるWrittenA less common, written-style ずる-form variant of 「焙じる」 with the same sense of roasting tea; in everyday speech say 「焙じる」.
- Related乾煎りからいりNeutralDry-roasting with no oil, as in 「ナッツを乾煎りする」; the emphasis is on using no oil at all.
Default to 「焼く」 for burning or for grilling and baking. Use 「燃やす」 for making things burn, 「焚く」 for building a fire or heating, 「焦がす」 for scorching, 「炙る」 for a light toasting, 「炒る」 for dry pan-roasting, 「焙じる」 for roasting tea, and 「ロースト」 for roast meat or coffee beans.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
