焦げ付いた in 30 Seconds
- Literally means food that is burnt and stuck to a pan.
- Commonly used metaphorically for bad debts or defaulted loans.
- Functions as an adjective or the past tense of 'kogetsuku'.
- Emphasizes the difficulty of removal or recovery compared to just 'kogeta'.
The Japanese word 焦げ付いた (kogetsuita) is a descriptive term that originates from the combination of two verbs: kogeru (to burn or scorch) and tsuku (to stick or attach). In its most literal sense, it describes food that has not only been overcooked but has physically adhered to the surface of a pan, pot, or grill due to excessive heat. This word is essential for anyone navigating a Japanese kitchen or dining experience, as it conveys a specific state of culinary failure where cleaning becomes a significant chore. However, the utility of this word extends far beyond the kitchen. In the world of finance and business, it serves as a powerful metaphor for 'bad debt' or 'unrecoverable loans.' Just as burnt food sticks stubbornly to a pan, a bad debt 'sticks' to the books, unable to be cleared or recovered. This dual nature makes it a fascinating study in how Japanese physical descriptions transition into abstract socio-economic concepts.
- Literal Usage
- Used when rice, meat, or sauces have turned black and stuck to the cookware. It implies a degree of carbonization that makes the food likely inedible and the pan difficult to wash.
- Financial Usage
- Refers to loans (furyou saiken) that have become 'stuck' or defaulted. This is common in news reports regarding bank stability or economic downturns.
- Metaphorical Stagnation
- Occasionally used to describe a situation or negotiation that has completely stalled and cannot move forward, much like the stuck food.
鍋の底に焦げ付いたご飯を取るのは大変だ。(Cleaning the rice that burnt onto the bottom of the pot is hard.)
When you use kogetsuita, you are emphasizing the 'attachment' aspect. If you simply say kogeta, you mean 'it burnt.' But when you say kogetsuita, you are highlighting the mess left behind. In a cultural context, Japanese cuisine often prizes the 'okage' (lightly browned rice at the bottom of a pot), but kogetsuita represents the point where that delicious browning has gone too far and become a nuisance. It is a word of frustration, whether you are a chef looking at a ruined sauce or a banker looking at a balance sheet full of non-performing assets.
その融資は完全に焦げ付いた。(That loan has completely gone bad/defaulted.)
- Visual Representation
- Imagine a black, crusty layer at the bottom of a stainless steel pot. That is the essence of 'kogetsuita'.
Grammatically, 焦げ付いた (kogetsuita) functions as the past tense or the perfective aspect of the intransitive verb kogetsuku. However, it is very frequently used as an attributive adjective to modify a noun. For example, kogetsuita nabe (a burnt-on pot) or kogetsuita nioi (the smell of something burnt and stuck). When using it, the focus is usually on the result of the action—the state of being burnt and stuck—rather than the process of burning itself.
- Modifying Nouns
- [焦げ付いた] + [Noun]. Example: 焦げ付いたフライパン (A scorched frying pan).
- As a Predicate
- [Subject] + が + [焦げ付いた]. Example: カレーが焦げ付いた (The curry burnt onto the pot).
強火で熱しすぎて、肉がフライパンに焦げ付いた。(I heated it too high, and the meat burnt onto the pan.)
In the financial context, it is often paired with words like saiken (credit/debt) or yuushi (loan). When a news anchor says 'Saiken ga kogetsuita,' they are informing the public that the money is as good as gone because the borrower cannot pay it back. This usage is strictly formal and found in business reports. In daily life, you will mostly use it when cooking or when describing the aftermath of a cooking disaster. It is important to note that kogetsuita is intransitive; the food 'burns itself onto' the pan. You don't 'kogetsuku' the food; you 'kogasu' (transitive) the food, and then the food 'kogetsuku' (intransitive) to the pan.
焦げ付いた部分をスプーンで削り落とした。(I scraped off the burnt-on parts with a spoon.)
You are most likely to encounter 焦げ付いた (kogetsuita) in three distinct environments. The first is at home or in a restaurant. If a chef is shouting in the back about a ruined pot, or if a mother is warning her child not to leave the stove on, this word will appear. It is a word of warning and a word of cleanup. You might hear: 'Nabe ga kogetsuiteru yo!' (The pot is burning/stuck!).
The second environment is in television commercials for cleaning products. Japan has a wide variety of detergents specifically designed to remove 'kogetsuki' (the noun form). The narrator will often say, 'Kogetsuita nabe mo pika-pika ni!' (Even burnt-on pots will become sparkling clean!). Watching these commercials is a great way to see the word in a visual context. The third environment is the financial news sector. During economic crises, such as the bursting of the Japanese asset price bubble, the term kogetsuki saiken (bad debts) was used daily on every news channel. It became a symbol of the 'lost decades' in Japan.
テレビのCMで、焦げ付いた汚れを落とす洗剤を見た。(I saw a detergent on a TV commercial that removes burnt-on stains.)
- In the Kitchen
- 'Ah! The bottom of the pot is kogetsuita!' (Panic/Annoyance)
- In the Bank
- 'The company's debt has kogetsuita.' (Serious/Financial Loss)
One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 焦げ付いた (kogetsuita) with 焦げた (kogeta). While they both mean 'burnt,' kogeta is the general term. If you toast a piece of bread and it's a bit too dark, that's kogeta. However, bread doesn't usually 'stick' to the toaster in a way that requires scrubbing, so kogetsuita would be slightly unnatural there. Use kogetsuita specifically when there is a 'sticking' or 'adhering' element involved, usually with liquids, sauces, or proteins in a pan.
Another mistake is using kogetsuita to describe things that are on fire. For fire, you must use moeta (burnt/burned by flame). If a house burns down, it is moeta, never kogetsuita. Kogetsuita is about surface contact with heat, not engulfment in flames. Additionally, learners often forget that this is an intransitive verb form. You cannot 'kogetsuku' a steak; the steak 'kogetsuku' to the pan because you 'kogasu' (burnt) it.
- Mistake 1: Bread
- Wrong: パンがトースターに焦げ付いた (Unless the cheese melted and stuck). Correct: パンが焦げた。
- Mistake 2: Fire
- Wrong: 家が焦げ付いた。 Correct: 家が焼けた or 家が燃えた。
× 私は肉を焦げ付いた。(Incorrect transitive use)
○ 肉がフライパンに焦げ付いた。(Correct intransitive use)
Understanding the nuances between 焦げ付いた and its synonyms will greatly improve your Japanese fluency. The most common alternative is kogeta, which we've discussed as a general term for burning. Another related word is kogekusai, which means 'smelling burnt.' If you are in the living room and smell something coming from the kitchen, you would say 'Kogekusai!' before you even see the kogetsuita pan.
In more formal or technical settings, you might use tanshoka (carbonization) for scientific contexts, or furyou saiken-ka (becoming a bad debt) for financial contexts. If you are talking about skin, you would use hiyaketa (sunburnt) or yakedo (a burn injury). Using kogetsuita for skin would imply you literally stuck to a hot surface, which is a very gruesome image!
- 焦げた (Kogeta)
- General 'burnt'. Use for toast, cookies, or light charring.
- 焦げ臭い (Kogekusai)
- Smelling like something is burning. A sensory description.
- 不良債権 (Furyou Saiken)
- The direct financial term for a 'bad debt'. 'Kogetsuita' is the more descriptive/metaphorical way to say it.
焦げたトーストは食べられるが、焦げ付いた鍋を洗うのは嫌だ。(You can eat burnt toast, but I hate washing a burnt-on pot.)
How Formal Is It?
Fun Fact
The financial meaning of 'kogetsuita' became extremely popular during the 1990s in Japan when many banks struggled with loans that couldn't be paid back. It's a perfect visual metaphor for money that is 'stuck' and can't be moved.
Pronunciation Guide
- Pronouncing 'tsu' as 'su'.
- Stressing the wrong syllable (Japanese syllables should have equal length).
- Making the 'i' too long like 'eeeee'.
- Pronouncing 'ge' as 'jee' (it must be a hard G).
- Treating it as four syllables instead of five (ko-ge-tsu-i-ta).
Difficulty Rating
The kanji 焦 is slightly complex but common in cooking contexts.
Examples by Level
鍋が焦げ付いた。
The pot got burnt and stuck.
Simple Subject + Ga + Verb (Past tense).
焦げ付いたご飯。
Burnt-on rice.
Adjective-like use modifying a noun.
肉が焦げ付いたよ。
The meat burnt and stuck, you know.
Ending with 'yo' for emphasis.
これは焦げ付いたの？
Is this burnt and stuck?
Question form using 'no'.
焦げ付いたから洗う。
It's burnt on, so I'll wash it.
Using 'kara' for reason.
魚が焦げ付いた。
The fish burnt and stuck.
Intransitive verb usage.
焦げ付いたパン。
Burnt-on bread (like with cheese).
Modifying a noun.
焦げ付いたにおいがする。
There is a burnt-on smell.
Nioi ga suru (to smell something).
火が強すぎて、カレーが焦げ付いた。
The fire was too strong, and the curry burnt onto the pot.
Using 'sugite' (too much).
焦げ付いた汚れが落ちない。
The burnt-on stains won't come off.
Negative form of 'ochiru' (to come off).
フライパンに焦げ付いた肉を取る。
I'll remove the meat that burnt onto the frying pan.
Relative clause modifying 'niku'.
少し焦げ付いたけど、大丈夫です。
It burnt on a little, but it's okay.
Using 'kedo' (but).
焦げ付いた部分は苦い。
The burnt-on parts are bitter.
Subject marker 'wa'.
どうして焦げ付いたの？
Why did it burn and stick?
Question word 'doushite'.
焦げ付いた鍋を水に浸ける。
I soak the burnt-on pot in water.
Verb 'tsukeru' (to soak).
焦げ付いたにおいが部屋に広がった。
The burnt-on smell spread through the room.
Verb 'hirogatta' (spread).
焦げ付いた借金を返すのは難しい。
It is difficult to pay back a debt that has gone bad.
Metaphorical financial usage.
この洗剤は焦げ付いた油汚れに強い。
This detergent is effective against burnt-on grease stains.
Ni tsuyoi (to be strong/effective against).
焦げ付いたソースがなかなか取れない。
The burnt-on sauce just won't come off.
Nakanaka + negative (not easily).
銀行は焦げ付いた融資の回収を諦めた。
The bank gave up on recovering the defaulted loan.
Business context.
焦げ付いたフライパンを再生させる方法。
A method to restore a burnt-on frying pan.
Noun modification.
うっかりしていて、鍋の底が焦げ付いた。
I was careless, and the bottom of the pot burnt and stuck.
Ukkari shite ite (being careless).
焦げ付いたおこげは香ばしいが、これは焦げすぎだ。
Burnt rice crust is fragrant, but this is too burnt.
Contrast using 'ga'.
焦げ付いた感情が胸に残っている。
A 'burnt-in' (stubborn/bitter) feeling remains in my chest.
Poetic/Metaphorical usage.
バブル崩壊後、多くの融資が焦げ付いた。
After the bubble burst, many loans defaulted.
Historical/Economic context.
焦げ付いた汚れを落とすには重曹が効果的だ。
Baking soda is effective for removing burnt-on stains.
Juusou (baking soda).
不況のせいで、売掛金が焦げ付いてしまった。
Due to the recession, accounts receivable have gone bad.
V-te shimau (regrettable action).
焦げ付いた餅が網に張り付いている。
The burnt mochi is stuck fast to the grill.
Haritsuite iru (is stuck/clinging).
そのプロジェクトは予算不足で焦げ付いた状態だ。
That project is in a stalled/deadlocked state due to lack of budget.
Metaphorical state.
焦げ付いた鍋を放置すると、臭いが取れなくなる。
If you leave a burnt-on pot alone, the smell won't come out.
Conditional 'to'.
貸した金が焦げ付いたと聞いて、彼は肩を落とした。
Hearing that the money he lent had defaulted, he slumped his shoulders.
Kata o otosu (idiom for disappointment).
焦げ付いた記憶が、時折フラッシュバックする。
Scorched (traumatic/stubborn) memories occasionally flash back.
Literary usage.
多額の不良債権が焦げ付き、銀行の経営を圧迫した。
Large amounts of bad debts defaulted, putting pressure on the bank's management.
Appaku suru (to pressure).
焦げ付いた鍋の底をクエン酸で煮沸して洗浄する。
Clean the bottom of the burnt-on pot by boiling it with citric acid.
Technical cleaning terminology.
彼のプライドが焦げ付いたように、その場から動けなかった。
As if his pride had been scorched and stuck, he couldn't move from that spot.
Simile using 'you ni'.
焦げ付いた資産を切り離し、企業の再建を図る。
Separate the non-performing assets and aim for corporate restructuring.
Kiri-hanasu (to detach/separate).
長年の恨みが焦げ付いたように心にこびりついている。
Years of resentment are stuck to the heart like something burnt and scorched.
Kobiritsuite iru (stuck fast).
焦げ付いた鉄板の焦げ目をヘラで力強くこそげ落とす。
Powerfully scrape off the char from the burnt-on iron plate with a spatula.
Kosoge-otosu (to scrape off).
貸付金が焦げ付いた際の手続きについて弁護士に相談した。
I consulted a lawyer about the procedures when a loan defaults.
Noun + sai (on the occasion of).
焦げ付いた言葉が、喉の奥に引っかかって出てこない。
Scorched words are caught in the back of my throat and won't come out.
Metaphorical/Poetic.
金融システム全体が焦げ付いた債権の山に沈もうとしていた。
The entire financial system was about to sink under a mountain of defaulted credits.
V-ou to shite ita (was about to).
焦げ付いたという事実は、もはや隠しようのない破綻を意味していた。
The fact that it had defaulted meant a failure that could no longer be hidden.
V-you no nai (no way to...).
焦げ付いた鍋を再生させる職人の技は、まさに芸術の域に達している。
The craftsman's skill in restoring burnt-on pots has truly reached the level of art.
Iki ni tasshite iru (to reach a level).
焦げ付いた過去の過ちが、現在の彼の歩みを阻害している。
The scorched mistakes of the past are hindering his progress today.
Sogai suru (to hinder).
焦げ付いた情熱の残滓が、冷え切った暖炉の底に見えるようだ。
The remnants of scorched passion seem visible at the bottom of the chilled fireplace.
Zansai (remnants/residue).
債務の焦げ付きが連鎖的に発生し、未曾有の経済危機を招いた。
The cascading defaults of debt led to an unprecedented economic crisis.
Rensa-teki (cascading/chain-reaction).
焦げ付いた記憶の断片を繋ぎ合わせ、真実を模索する。
Piece together the fragments of scorched memories and seek the truth.
Mosaku suru (to grope for/seek).
焦げ付いた社会構造の歪みを正すには、抜本的な改革が必要だ。
To correct the distortions of a scorched social structure, radical reform is necessary.
Bappon-teki (radical/drastic).
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— To remove the burnt-on bits from a pan.
重曹で焦げ付きを落とす。
— Prevention of burning/sticking (non-stick).
焦げ付き防止加工のフライパン。
— The defaulting of a loan.
融資の焦げ付きが問題になっている。
— Left in a burnt-on/defaulted state.
鍋を焦げ付いたまま放置する。
— On the verge of burning/defaulting.
会社が焦げ付く寸前だ。
— A mark or stain left by burning.
テーブルに焦げ付いた跡がある。
— The smell of something burnt and stuck.
台所から焦げ付いた臭いがする。
— Non-performing assets.
焦げ付いた資産を処分する。
— The specific part that is burnt.
焦げ付いた部分を削る。
— Defaulted liabilities.
焦げ付いた負債の整理。
Idioms & Expressions
— A debt becomes unrecoverable.
友人に貸した金が焦げ付いた。
Neutral— A bank loan defaults.
不動産融資が焦げ付いた。
Formal— A relationship that has soured and stalled (rare/metaphorical).
二人の仲は焦げ付いた状態だ。
Informal— Bad debt/Non-performing loan.
焦げ付き債権の処理に追われる。
Formal— Often used to refer to a ruined meal that was supposed to be a delicacy.
楽しみにしていたのに、焦げ付いたおこげになった。
Neutral— To result in a bad debt.
銀行が多額の焦げ付きを出した。
Business— A heart hardened or scarred by past trauma (literary).
彼女の焦げ付いた心は癒えない。
Literary— Defaults spreading through a system.
業界全体に焦げ付きが回っている。
Business— Fears of potential default.
焦げ付き懸念から株価が下がった。
Financial— A dark, unchangeable past (poetic).
焦げ付いた歴史を塗り替える。
LiteraryWord Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
Memorize It
Mnemonic
KOGE (Burnt) + TSUI (Stuck) + TA (Past state). Imagine a 'COKE' (Koge) can 'STUCK' (Tsui) to the 'TABLE' (Ta) after it burnt.
Visual Association
Imagine a black, crusty circle at the bottom of a frying pan that looks like a permanent 'sticker' (tsuku).
Word Web
Challenge
Try to find a video of someone cleaning a 'kogetsuita' pan on YouTube and listen for the word in the comments or the title.
Word Origin
Formed from the verb 'kogetsuku'. 'Koge' comes from the verb 'kogeru' (to burn) and 'tsuku' comes from 'tsuku' (to stick).
Original meaning: To be burnt onto the bottom of a container.
Japonic / Japanese.Cultural Context
Be careful using the financial meaning around business partners unless you are discussing technical reports, as it implies a very serious failure.
In English, we say 'burnt on' or 'scorched'. For money, we say 'bad debt' or 'defaulted'. Japanese uses the same word for both.
Summary
焦げ付いた (kogetsuita) is your go-to word for 'burnt-on' food disasters and 'bad debt' financial disasters. It implies a stubborn, stuck state that is hard to fix. Example: 焦げ付いた鍋 (A burnt-on pot).
- Literally means food that is burnt and stuck to a pan.
- Commonly used metaphorically for bad debts or defaulted loans.
- Functions as an adjective or the past tense of 'kogetsuku'.
- Emphasizes the difficulty of removal or recovery compared to just 'kogeta'.
Related Content
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).
