Synonym Nuance VS
How to say "Burn" in Japanese
Both words can translate to "burn", but which should you choose?
Japanese Option A
焼ける
やける (yakeru)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Option B
燃やす
もやす (moyasu)
N4 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Translation Difference
When translating "burn" into Japanese, you must choose carefully between 焼ける and 燃やす.
In Japanese, 焼ける (やける (yakeru)) is typically associated with "to burn, to be baked/grilled/roasted (intransitive)" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents Indicates that something is cooked by heat, or gets burnt, often by itself or unintentionally. The focus is on the object undergoing the change..
On the other hand, 燃やす (もやす (moyasu)) maps to "to burn (something), to set fire to" (Syllabus Level: N4) and represents 他のものを火で焼く、または燃える状態にすることを意味します。主に他動詞として使われます。. A literal translation of "burn" can often sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers if mixed up!
Bilingual Context for "焼ける"
パンがちょうどよく焼けました。
The bread was baked just right.
Bilingual Context for "燃やす"
ゴミを燃やすと、煙がたくさん出ます。
When you burn garbage, a lot of smoke comes out.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "パンがちょうどよく焼けました。" (Meaning: "The bread was baked just right.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "焼ける" fits here because it means "to burn, to be baked/grilled/roasted (intransitive)" in the context of: "The bread was baked just right.". "燃やす" represents "to burn (something), to set fire to".