焦げた
Explanation of 焦げた at your level:
Hello! Today we learn 焦げた (kogeta). This word means burnt. Imagine you have toast. You put it in the toaster. You forget it. Oh no! The toast is black. It is kogeta. It is burnt toast. You cannot eat it. It is not good. So, kogeta means something got too hot and became black or very dark. Like burnt food. Simple!
Hi there! Let's talk about 焦げた (kogeta). This adjective means burnt. You use it when food or something else has been damaged by too much heat. For example, if you leave pizza in the oven for too long, the edges might become black and hard. We say the pizza is kogeta. Or maybe you are grilling some vegetables, and a few pieces get too much fire and turn black. Those are kogeta yasai (burnt vegetables). It’s a common word when talking about cooking mistakes.
Welcome back! Today's word is 焦げた (kogeta), meaning burnt. This adjective describes something that has been scorched or overcooked due to excessive heat. It's frequently used in culinary contexts. For instance, if your rice sticks to the bottom of the pot and becomes blackened, you'd describe it as kogeta gohan. Similarly, if meat or vegetables on a grill turn dark and unappetizingly crispy, they are kogeta. It implies an undesirable outcome of cooking, where the item is no longer in its optimal state due to being burned.
Let's explore 焦げた (kogeta), the Japanese adjective for burnt. This term signifies a state of being scorched or charred, typically as an unintended consequence of overexposure to heat. While most commonly applied to food – think of kogeta pan (burnt bread) or kogeta niku (burnt meat) – it can extend to other materials affected by fire. It's important to distinguish kogeta from intentional charring; it implies an accidental overcooking that diminishes the item's quality or edibility. Understanding its usage helps in describing cooking mishaps accurately.
Delving into 焦げた (kogeta), we find the Japanese adjective for burnt or scorched. This word denotes a state resulting from excessive thermal exposure, leading to charring, discoloration, and often a bitter taste or altered texture. Its primary domain is gastronomy, where it serves to identify foodstuffs that have been accidentally overcooked, such as kogeta gohan (rice burnt at the bottom of the pot) or kogeta tamago (burnt egg). Beyond food, it can describe materials like paper or wood that have been singed. The nuance lies in its implication of an undesirable, often accidental, transformation due to heat, distinguishing it from deliberate charring techniques.
The Japanese adjective 焦げた (kogeta), meaning burnt or scorched, offers a rich semantic field rooted in the experience of heat's destructive potential. Derived from the verb kogeru, it describes the resultant state of matter subjected to excessive temperatures, leading to carbonization and degradation. Its application is predominantly culinary, identifying food items rendered unpalatable through overcooking, such as kogeta sakana (burnt fish) or kogeta mochi (burnt rice cake). However, its conceptual reach extends metaphorically and literally to other materials affected by fire. Etymologically linked to the kanji 焦 (fire), it encapsulates a fundamental aspect of human interaction with heat – the risk of unintended destruction. Understanding kogeta provides insight into the Japanese appreciation for precise culinary description and the cultural significance of preventing food waste through careful cooking.
焦げた in 30 Seconds
- Meaning: Burnt, scorched.
- Usage: Primarily for food accidentally overcooked.
- Verb form: Derived from 焦げる (kogeru - to burn).
- Key distinction: Different from properly cooked (焼けた - yaketa).
Hey there! Let's dive into the word 焦げた (kogeta). This is a super useful Japanese adjective that means burnt. Think about when you're cooking, and maybe you get a little distracted, and suddenly your toast is black or your grilled chicken has crispy, dark edges. That's exactly what kogeta describes!
It's not just for food, though. You might hear it used for things like paper that's been accidentally scorched or even wood that's been burned. The key idea is that something has been exposed to too much heat and has changed its appearance and often its texture because of it. It carries a sense of something being ruined or overdone by heat.
So, next time you see or smell something that's been overcooked, you'll know the right word! It's a common word in everyday Japanese, especially in contexts related to cooking and food preparation. Keep an eye out for it!
The word 焦げた (kogeta) comes from the verb 焦げる (kogeru), which means 'to burn' or 'to scorch'. The '-ta' ending is the past tense marker for verbs in Japanese, so when it's used as an adjective, it's in its past participial form, describing a state of having been burned.
The kanji character 焦 (shō, ko-) itself is quite evocative. It's composed of the radical 'fire' (火 - hi) on the left, and the phonetic component 'east' (東 - tō, higashi) on the right. While the phonetic component doesn't directly contribute to the meaning here, the presence of the 'fire' radical clearly links it to heat and burning.
Historically, the concept of burning and scorching has been a part of human experience since the discovery of fire. In Japan, as in many cultures, controlling fire for cooking and warmth was crucial. The vocabulary to describe the results of fire, both positive (cooked) and negative (burnt), developed naturally. Kogeta likely became a standard term as Japanese cuisine and cooking methods evolved, needing a precise word to describe food that was unfortunately overcooked.
You'll find 焦げた (kogeta) used in a variety of everyday situations, mostly related to food. It's a descriptive adjective that paints a clear picture of something that's been overcooked.
Common Collocations:
- 焦げたパン (kogeta pan): Burnt bread/toast. This is probably one of the most frequent uses!
- 焦げたご飯 (kogeta gohan): Burnt rice. Imagine the bottom layer of rice in a pot getting stuck and scorched.
- 焦げた肉 (kogeta niku): Burnt meat. Think of barbecue where some pieces get a bit too charred.
- 焦げた野菜 (kogeta yasai): Burnt vegetables. Maybe grilled veggies that lost their crispness and turned black.
Register: Kogeta is a neutral term. You can use it in casual conversations with friends and family, as well as in more formal settings like a restaurant review or a cooking class, although in very formal writing, you might opt for a more sophisticated synonym if available.
It's important to note that kogeta implies something has been negatively affected by burning. It’s not usually used for things that are *supposed* to be charred, like certain types of grilled or smoked foods where charring is part of the appeal. It specifically refers to accidental overcooking.
While 焦げた (kogeta) itself is a straightforward adjective, the concept of burning or being burned appears in several Japanese expressions, often metaphorically.
Here are a few related ideas:
- 火がつく (hi ga tsuku): Literally 'fire catches'. This idiom means to get fired up about something, to become enthusiastic or passionate. Example: 彼の話を聞いて、プロジェクトに火がついた。(Kare no hanashi o kiite, purojekuto ni hi ga tsuita.) - After hearing his talk, I got fired up about the project.
- 火種 (hidane): Literally 'fire seed' or 'ember'. This refers to the origin or cause of a conflict or problem. Example: その些細な出来事が、大きな争いの火種となった。(Sono sa-sai na dekigoto ga, ōkina arasoi no hidane to natta.) - That trivial incident became the spark for a big conflict.
- 火を見るより明らか (hi o miru yori akiraka): Literally 'clearer than seeing fire'. This means something is extremely obvious or evident. Example: 彼が犯人だと、火を見るより明らかだ。(Kare ga hannin da to, hi o miru yori akiraka da.) - It's as clear as day that he is the culprit.
- 燃え尽きる (moetsukiru): To burn out. This can be literal (like a candle burning out) or figurative, meaning to exhaust oneself completely, physically or emotionally. Example: 彼は仕事で燃え尽きてしまった。(Kare wa shigoto de moetsukite shimatta.) - He burned out from work.
- 火の粉を払う (hi no ko o harau): Literally 'to brush off sparks'. This means to get rid of trouble or danger, or to clear one's name. Example: 濡れ衣を着せられたが、なんとか火の粉を払うことができた。(Nuregoromo o kiserareta ga, nantoka hi no ko o harau koto ga dekita.) - I was framed, but somehow I managed to clear my name.
These expressions show how the powerful imagery of fire and burning is used in Japanese to convey a range of abstract ideas beyond just literal heat.
Let's break down the grammar and pronunciation of 焦げた (kogeta).
Grammar:
- Part of Speech: Adjective (specifically, the past participle of the verb kogeru used attributively).
- Formation: It's formed from the verb 焦げる (kogeru), which is a Group 2 (ichidan) verb. The past tense/past participle form is made by changing the final -ru to -ta. So, kogeru becomes kogeta.
- Usage: It can modify a noun directly (e.g., kogeta pan - burnt bread) or be used predicatively after the copula desu (e.g., Sono pan wa kogeta desu. - That bread is burnt.).
- Plural Forms: Japanese adjectives generally don't have distinct plural forms. The adjective itself remains unchanged regardless of the number of nouns it modifies.
- Countability: N/A for adjectives.
- Articles: Japanese does not use articles like 'a', 'an', or 'the'.
Pronunciation:
- Syllables: ko-ge-ta (3 syllables)
- IPA (Approximate): /ko̞.ɡe̞.ta̠/
- Breakdown:
- こ (ko): Similar to the 'co' in 'coat'.
- げ (ge): Similar to the 'ge' in 'get'.
- た (ta): Similar to the 'ta' in 'tar'.
- Stress: Japanese is largely pitch-accent based rather than stress-based like English. In Tokyo dialect, kogeta has a pattern like L-H-L (Low-High-Low pitch).
- Common Errors for English Speakers:
- Pronouncing the 'g' sound too softly, making it sound like 'k'.
- Adding unnecessary stress to syllables.
- Confusing the vowel sounds.
- Rhyming Words: Finding perfect rhymes in Japanese is different due to the syllable structure. Words ending in '-eta' might be considered near rhymes, such as:
- aeta (会えた - met)
- tabeta (食べた - ate)
- mita (見た - saw)
- kaketa (欠けた - chipped)
- waketa (分けた - divided)
Fun Fact
The kanji 焦 (shō, ko-) combines the radical for 'fire' (火) with the phonetic component 'east' (東). While 'east' doesn't add meaning, the fire radical clearly points to the concept of burning.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'koh-GAY-tah', with the emphasis on the second syllable.
Similar to UK, 'koh-GAY-tah', with the emphasis on the second syllable.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'g' sound.
- Adding strong stress like in English.
- Incorrect vowel sounds (e.g., pronouncing 'o' as in 'hot').
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy to read
easy to write
easy to say
easy to understand
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Verb Past Tense Formation (-ta form)
kogeru -> kogeta
Using Verbs as Adjectives (Verb + ta)
The burnt bread = kogeta pan (焦げたパン)
Particles は (wa) and が (ga)
パンは焦げた (topic) vs パンが焦げた (subject focus)
Examples by Level
パンは焦げた。
bread TOPIC burnt.
は marks the topic.
トーストが焦げた！
toast SUBJECT burnt!
が marks the subject.
ご飯は焦げた。
rice TOPIC burnt.
Topic marker.
肉が焦げた。
meat SUBJECT burnt.
Subject marker.
これは焦げた。
this TOPIC burnt.
Pronoun + topic marker.
魚は焦げた。
fish TOPIC burnt.
Topic marker.
野菜は焦げた。
vegetables TOPIC burnt.
Topic marker.
ケーキは焦げた。
cake TOPIC burnt.
Topic marker.
朝食のトーストが焦げてしまった。
breakfast TOPIC toast BURNT-PAST-TENSE.
〜てしまう indicates something happened unintentionally or regretfully.
オーブンに入れすぎて、パンが焦げたよ。
oven IN too-much, bread SUBJECT burnt (informal).
〜すぎて means 'too much of X'.
この焼き鳥は少し焦げているね。
this grilled-chicken SLIGHTLY burnt-is (informal).
〜ている indicates a current state.
フライパンにくっついて、ご飯が焦げた。
frying-pan TO stuck, rice SUBJECT burnt.
〜て indicates a sequence of actions or cause/effect.
野菜を焦がさないように注意してください。
vegetables BURNT-not-do-so-that CAUTION please-do.
〜ないように means 'so as not to do X'.
焦げた部分は食べられない。
burnt PART-es eat-cannot.
〜部分 means 'part' or 'portion'.
お母さんが作ったクッキーが焦げてしまった。
mother made COOKIES BURNT-PAST-TENSE (informal).
〜てしまう expresses regret.
肉を焼くとき、焦げないように火加減が大切だ。
meat GRILL-when, burnt-not-do-so-that fire-control important.
火加減 (hikagen) means 'heat control'.
うっかりしていて、パンの耳が真っ黒に焦げてしまった。
carelessly, bread TOPIC edge PURE-black-LY burnt-PAST-TENSE.
真っ黒に (makkuro ni) means 'pitch black'.
このステーキは焼き加減が絶妙だが、端の方が少し焦げている。
this steak TOPIC cooking-level EXCELLENT but, edge SIDE MORE SLIGHTLY burnt-is.
端 (hashi) means 'edge' or 'end'.
鍋底に米がこびりついて焦げた匂いが部屋中に広がった。
pot-bottom-in rice STUCK-and burnt SMELL ROOM-middle-through spread.
鍋底 (nabezoko) means 'bottom of a pot'.
焦げた部分は苦くて食べられないので、取り除いた。
burnt PART-es bitter-and eat-cannot SO, removed.
取り除く (torinozoku) means 'to remove'.
子供が一人でお菓子を作ろうとして、オーブンを焦がしてしまったらしい。
child ALONE sweets MAKE-try-and, oven BURNT-PAST-TENSE-SEEMS.
〜らしい indicates hearsay or appearance.
炭火で焼いているので、香ばしい香りと共に少し焦げた風味が楽しめる。
charcoal-fire-BY grilling SO, fragrant smell WITH LITTLE burnt flavor ENJOY-can.
香ばしい (kōbashii) means 'fragrant' or 'savory'.
焦げた匂いがするので、火事かと思って慌てて外に飛び出した。
burnt SMELL BECAUSE, fire WHETHER THINK-and in-a-panic outside JUMPED-OUT.
火事 (kaji) means 'fire' (as in a house fire).
このレシピでは、野菜を弱火でじっくり炒め、焦げないように注意深く調理する。
this recipe-in, vegetables WEAK-fire-WITH slowly stir-fry, burnt-not-do-so-that CAREFULLY cook.
弱火 (yowabi) means 'low heat'.
フライパンに油をひき忘れたため、パンケーキの底が均一に焦げてしまった。
frying-pan-IN oil APPLY-forget-BECAUSE, pancake TOPIC bottom EVENLY burnt-PAST-TENSE.
均一に (kin'itsu ni) means 'uniformly'.
炭火焼きは、食材の旨味を引き出す一方で、焦げ付きやすいという難点がある。
charcoal-grilling TOPIC, ingredients TOPIC flavor-UMAMI draw-out WHILE, burnt-stick-EASY as-for drawback exists.
旨味 (umami) refers to the fifth basic taste; 難点 (nanten) means 'disadvantage'.
電子レンジで温め直したら、食品の中心は温かいのに外側が焦げてしまった。
microwave-BY reheat-if, food TOPIC center TOPIC warm BUT outside TOPIC burnt-PAST-TENSE.
温め直す (atatame naosu) means 'to reheat'.
子供の頃、料理を手伝っていて、うっかりクッキーを焦がしてしまい、母親に叱られた経験がある。
childhood-in, cooking HELP-do-and, carelessly cookie BURNT-PAST-TENSE, mother-BY scolded experience exists.
叱る (karu) means 'to scold'.
この古い文献によると、当時の調理法では、肉を焦げないように長時間煮込むのが一般的だったようだ。
this old literature-ACCORDING-TO, that-time cooking-method-IN, meat BURNT-not-do-so-that LONG-TIME simmer IS common WAS seems.
文献 (bunken) means 'literature' or 'documents'.
火災報知器が鳴り響き、焦げ臭い匂いが充満していたため、避難指示に従って建物から出た。
fire-alarm SOUNDED, burnt-smelly smell FILLED WAS SO, evacuation-order FOLLOWING building-FROM exited.
火災報知器 (kasai hōchiki) means 'fire alarm'; 充満する (jūman suru) means 'to be filled with'.
焦げた部分は苦味が増すだけでなく、食感も悪くなるため、できるだけ取り除くことが推奨される。
burnt PART-es bitterness INCREASES not-only, texture ALSO worsens SO, as-much-as-possible remove IS recommended.
推奨される (suishō sareru) means 'to be recommended'.
バーベキューでは、肉の表面に香ばしい焦げ目をつけたいが、中まで火を通しすぎると焦げてしまうジレンマがある。
barbecue-IN, meat TOPIC surface-ON savory burnt-mark WANT-to-put, inside UNTIL fire pass-too-much BURNT-if DILEMMA exists.
焦げ目 (kogeme) means 'burnt mark' or 'char'.
過熱により食材の表面が均一に焦げ、本来の風味が損なわれてしまった。
overheating-BY ingredients TOPIC surface EVENLY burnt, original flavor DAMAGED-PAST-TENSE.
過熱 (kanetsu) means 'overheating'.
炭火焼特有の香ばしさと、わずかに焦げた風味が絶妙に調和した逸品だった。
charcoal-grill-unique savory-ness AND, slightly burnt flavor EXQUISITELY harmonized MASTERPIECE WAS.
逸品 (ippin) means 'masterpiece' or 'rare item'.
電子レンジでの再加熱は、内部まで均一に熱が伝わる反面、表面が焦げやすいという欠点がある。
microwave-IN re-heating TOPIC, inside UNTIL evenly heat TRANSMITS on-the-other-hand, surface BURNT-easy AS-FOR drawback exists.
反面 (hanmen) means 'on the other hand'.
幼少期に料理の失敗から得た「焦げた」という経験は、食材への敬意を学ぶ上で貴重な教訓となった。
childhood-in cooking TOPIC failure-FROM gained 'burnt' AS-FOR experience, ingredients TOWARDS respect LEARN-in valuable lesson BECAME.
食材への敬意 (shokuzai e no keii) means 'respect for ingredients'.
古代の調理法に関する文献を紐解くと、火加減の難しさから、食材が焦げることは避けがたい現象であったことがうかがえる。
ancient cooking-methods REGARDING documents UNTIE-if, heat-control TOPIC difficulty-FROM, ingredients BURNT IS unavoidable phenomenon WAS IS can-be-seen.
紐解く (himotoku) means 'to untie' or 'to decipher'.
火災現場特有の焦げ臭さは、単なる不快臭ではなく、事態の深刻さを示す指標ともなり得る。
fire-scene-unique burnt-smell TOPIC, mere unpleasant-odor NOT, situation TOPIC seriousness INDICATOR ALSO can-become.
指標 (shihyō) means 'indicator' or 'index'.
焦げた部分は、その苦味と食感の変化により、料理全体の繊細なバランスを崩しかねない。
burnt PART-es, ITS bitterness AND texture TOPIC change-BY, dish TOPIC whole delicate balance RUIN-can.
繊細なバランス (sensai na baransu) means 'delicate balance'.
完璧なローストビーフとは、外側に香ばしい焦げ目をつけつつも、内部は理想的なロゼの状態を保つ、まさに職人技の結晶である。
perfect roast-beef IS, outside-ON savory burnt-mark PUT-while-also, inside IDEAL rosé state MAINTAIN, truly craftsman-skill TOPIC crystallization IS.
職人技 (shokunin waza) means 'craftsmanship'.
食材の過熱による均一な焦げ付きは、メイラード反応とカラメル化の進行しすぎを示唆しており、本来のテロワールを覆い隠してしまう。
ingredients TOPIC overheating-BY uniform burning-stick-ing IS, Maillard reaction AND caramelization TOPIC progression-too-much INDICATES, original terroir HIDE-away.
テロワール (terowāru) is a loanword for 'terroir', the environmental factors affecting a crop's characteristics.
高級料亭では、炭火の遠赤外線効果を最大限に活かし、食材の旨味を凝縮させると同時に、香ばしさと微かな焦げ味の妙を演出する高度な技術が求められる。
high-class restaurant-in, charcoal-fire TOPIC far-infrared-ray effect MAXIMALLY utilize, ingredients TOPIC flavor-UMAMI condense MAKE-simultaneously, fragrance AND faint burnt-taste TOPIC subtlety CREATE advanced technique IS-required.
遠赤外線 (ensekigaisen) means 'far-infrared rays'.
電子レンジ加熱の物理的限界として、マイクロ波が水分子に作用する原理上、内部の均一加熱と表面の焦げ付き防止の両立は、依然として技術的課題である。
microwave heating TOPIC physical-limitation-AS-FOR, microwaves THAT water-molecules-TO act PRINCIPLE-due-to, inside TOPIC uniform heating AND surface TOPIC burning-prevention BOTH-achieving IS, still technical challenge IS.
両立 (ryōritsu) means 'coexistence' or 'compatibility'.
食育の観点から、幼少期に経験する「焦げた」という失敗体験は、単なる調理ミスに留まらず、食材の尊さや、火という自然現象への畏敬の念を育む契機となり得る。
food-education TOPIC viewpoint-FROM, childhood-in experience DOING 'burnt' AS-FOR failure-experience IS, mere cooking-mistake STOP-not, ingredients TOPIC preciousness AND, fire AS-FOR natural-phenomenon TOWARDS awe RESPECT foster opportunity CAN-become.
畏敬の念 (ikei no nen) means 'sense of awe and reverence'.
古代ローマの調理法に関する文献学的考察によれば、当時の食文化においては、意図的な焦げ目の付与が、保存性を高めるため、あるいは風味の複雑性を加えるために、しばしば行われていたことが示唆される。
ancient Roman TOPIC cooking-methods REGARDING literary-historical consideration-ACCORDING-TO, that-time food-culture-IN, intentional burnt-mark TOPIC addition IS, preservability INCREASE for, OR flavor TOPIC complexity ADD for, often carried-out WAS IS suggested.
文献学的 (bunken-gakuteki) means 'literary-historical' or 'philological'.
火災現場における焦げ臭の化学的分析は、燃焼物質の特定や火災原因の究明に不可欠であり、その成分組成は火災の様相を克明に物語る。
fire-scene-in burnt-smell TOPIC chemical-analysis IS, burning-substance TOPIC identification AND fire-cause TOPIC investigation-in indispensable, ITS component-composition IS fire TOPIC aspect CLEARLY tells.
克明に (kokumei ni) means 'clearly' or 'in detail'.
美食の世界では、焦げた部分がもたらす苦味と香ばしさが、甘味や酸味といった他の味覚要素と対比されることで、複雑かつ深みのある味覚体験を創出する。
fine-dining TOPIC world-IN, burnt PART-es BRING-about bitterness AND fragrance IS, sweetness AND sourness LIKE other-taste-elements WITH contrast-DO-BY, complex AND depth-having taste-experience CREATE.
味覚体験 (mikaku taiken) means 'taste experience'.
現代の食文化においては、意図的な「焦げ」を洗練された調理技術として捉える傾向があるが、それはあくまで食材のポテンシャルを最大限に引き出すための手段であり、過剰な焦げは禁忌とされる。
modern food-culture-IN, intentional 'char' AS-FOR refined cooking-technique AS-FOR grasp tendency exists, BUT THAT is-only ingredients TOPIC potential MAXIMALLY draw-out FOR means, AND excessive char IS taboo IS-considered.
禁忌 (kinki) means 'taboo'.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"火の粉を払う (hi no ko o harau)"
To clear one's name; to get rid of trouble.
彼は濡れ衣を着せられたが、なんとか火の粉を払うことができた。
neutral"火種になる (hidane ni naru)"
To become the cause or spark of a conflict or problem.
その些細な発言が、二人の間の火種になった。
neutral"燃え尽きる (moetsukiru)"
To burn out; to exhaust oneself completely (physically or mentally).
彼は長年の激務で燃え尽きてしまった。
neutral"火を見るより明らか (hi o miru yori akiraka)"
As clear as day; extremely obvious.
彼が嘘をついているのは、火を見るより明らかだ。
formal"火がつく (hi ga tsuku)"
To catch fire (literally); to become enthusiastic or passionate about something (figuratively).
彼の情熱的なスピーチを聞いて、皆の心に火がついた。
neutral"火中の栗を拾う (kachū no kuri o hirou)"
To take on a risky task for someone else; to pull someone's chestnuts out of the fire.
そんな危険な仕事、火中の栗を拾うようなものだ。
formalEasily Confused
Both relate to cooking and heat, and both are past tense forms.
'Yaketa' means properly cooked (baked, grilled, fried). 'Kogeta' means burnt or scorched due to overcooking.
パンは<strong>焼けた</strong>。(Pan wa <strong>yaketa</strong>.) - The bread is cooked. / パンは<strong>焦げた</strong>。(Pan wa <strong>kogeta</strong>.) - The bread is burnt.
Both involve fire and result in damage.
'Moeta' (from 'moyeru') means something caught fire and burned (e.g., a house burned down). 'Kogeta' means something was scorched or burnt *by* heat, often implying it was the object being heated (like food).
家が<strong>燃えた</strong>。(Ie ga <strong>moeta</strong>.) - The house burned down. / ご飯が<strong>焦げた</strong>。(Gohan ga <strong>kogeta</strong>.) - The rice got burnt.
Both are related to burning and share the same kanji.
'Kogasu' is the transitive verb ('to burn something'). 'Kogeta' is the adjective/past participle form ('burnt').
彼はパンを<strong>焦がした</strong>。(Kare wa pan o <strong>kogashita</strong>.) - He burnt the bread. / パンは<strong>焦げた</strong>。(Pan wa <strong>kogeta</strong>.) - The bread is burnt.
Both describe something being extremely burnt.
'Sumi ni natta' is a more extreme and colloquial expression, meaning 'turned into charcoal'. 'Kogeta' is a more general term for burnt.
肉が<strong>焦げた</strong>。(Niku ga <strong>kogeta</strong>.) - The meat is burnt. / 肉が<strong>炭になった</strong>。(Niku ga <strong>sumi ni natta</strong>.) - The meat turned into charcoal.
Sentence Patterns
Noun + は/が + 焦げた。
トーストは焦げた。
焦げた + Noun。
焦げたパンは食べられない。
Noun + を + 焦がす。
フライパンでご飯を焦がした。
Noun + が + 焦げ付く。
鍋にご飯が焦げ付いた。
Noun + は + 焦げている。
クッキーは焦げているようだ。
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7/10
Formality Scale
Tips
Sound Association
Food Waste Awareness
Verb to Adjective
Rhythm Practice
Don't Mix with 'Yaketa'
Kanji Clue
Cookbook Challenge
Beyond Food
Sensory Link
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'coke' (like the drink) getting 'geta' (Japanese wooden sandals) burnt on it. The burnt smell is awful!
Visual Association
Imagine a piece of toast turning black and smoking, with the word 'KO-GET-A!' appearing in fiery letters.
Word Web
Challenge
Try describing different burnt food items you've encountered using 'kogeta'.
Word Origin
Japanese
Original meaning: The character 焦 originally depicted fire (火) scorching something.
Cultural Context
While 'kogeta' itself is neutral, discussing burnt food can sometimes touch on themes of wastefulness or lack of skill, depending on the context.
In English, 'burnt' is a common adjective. The Japanese 'kogeta' carries a similar direct meaning, often used in the context of food mishaps.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Kitchen/Cooking
- パンが焦げた！(Pan ga kogeta!) - The bread is burnt!
- 焦げた匂いがする。(Kogeta nioi ga suru.) - It smells burnt.
- 焦げた部分は取り除いてください。(Kogeta bubun wa torinozoite kudasai.) - Please remove the burnt parts.
Restaurant/Eating Out
- すみません、この料理は少し焦げています。(Sumimasen, kono ryōri wa sukoshi kogete imasu.) - Excuse me, this dish is a little burnt.
- 焼き加減はどうしますか？焦げ目はつけますか？(Yakikagen wa dō shimasu ka? Kogeme wa tsukemasu ka?) - How would you like it cooked? Would you like it charred?
Describing Accidents
- 火の不始末で、物が焦げた。(Hi no fushimatsu de, mono ga kogeta.) - Something got burnt due to carelessness with fire.
- うっかりして焦がしてしまった。(Ukkari shite kogashite shimatta.) - I accidentally burnt it.
Describing Appearance
- 髪が焦げたように見える。(Kami ga kogeta yō ni mieru.) - My hair looks burnt.
- テーブルに焦げ跡がついた。(Tēburu ni kogeato ga tsuita.) - A burn mark appeared on the table.
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever burnt toast so badly it was completely black? What did you call it in Japanese?"
"What's the worst thing you've ever accidentally burnt while cooking?"
"Do you prefer your grilled food slightly charred or perfectly cooked? Is there a Japanese word for that perfect char?"
"What does the smell of burnt food remind you of?"
"If you find burnt parts on your food, do you usually eat around them or remove them?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you burnt food. What was it, and what happened?
Think about a time you smelled something burning. What was your reaction?
Write about the difference between 'yaketa' (cooked) and 'kogeta' (burnt) food. Which do you prefer?
Imagine you are a chef. How do you avoid 'kogeta' dishes and ensure perfect 'yaketa' results?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsTest Yourself
このパンは ____。
The sentence describes the bread as burnt, so 'kogeta' (burnt) is the correct word.
What does '焦げた' mean?
'Kogeta' specifically means burnt or scorched.
If you say 'ご飯が焦げた', it means the rice is perfectly cooked.
'Gohan ga kogeta' means the rice is burnt, usually stuck to the bottom of the pot and tasting bad.
Word
Meaning
These are common combinations showing how 'kogeta' is used with different nouns.
The correct sentence is '肉はバーベキューで焦げた' (The meat got burnt at the barbecue).
オーブンに入れすぎて、クッキーが ____。
Putting cookies in the oven too long results in them being burnt ('kogeta').
Which phrase best describes food that is intentionally charred for flavor, not accidentally burnt?
'Kōbashiku yaketa' means 'fragrantly/savory baked/grilled', implying intentional charring for good flavor, unlike the others which imply accidental burning.
'焦げた' can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe something that has been 'burned out' emotionally.
While 'moyeru' (燃える) can be used metaphorically for burning out, 'kogeta' is almost exclusively used for literal burning or scorching.
The smell of ____ filled the kitchen, indicating a cooking mishap.
A cooking mishap often results in a burnt smell ('kogeta nioi').
Create a sentence using '焦げた' and describing a specific food item and the situation.
Example: 'うっかりして、ケーキの上面が焦げてしまったが、味は大丈夫だった。' (Ukkari shite, kēki no jōmen ga kogete shimatta ga, aji wa daijōbu datta. - I was careless and the top of the cake got burnt, but the taste was okay.)
Score: /10
Summary
Remember 'kogeta' for that unfortunate state when food gets too much heat and turns unpleasantly burnt.
- Meaning: Burnt, scorched.
- Usage: Primarily for food accidentally overcooked.
- Verb form: Derived from 焦げる (kogeru - to burn).
- Key distinction: Different from properly cooked (焼けた - yaketa).
Sound Association
Context is Key
Food Waste Awareness
Verb to Adjective
Example
焦げたパンは食べられない。
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More food words
少々
B1A little; a few.
〜ほど
B1About; approximately; degree.
~ほど
B1About, approximately; to the extent of ~.
豊富な
B1Abundant, rich in.
ふんだんに
B1Lavishly; abundantly; generously (e.g., using ingredients).
足す
B1To add (e.g., to a sum, to ingredients).
添加物
B1Additive.
〜てから
B1After doing ~.
~てから
B1After doing (an action).
熟成させる
B1To age; to mature (food).
