When something 焦げる (kogeru), it means it has burned or gotten scorched. This often refers to food that has been cooked too long and has a blackened or crisped surface.
You might hear it used for toast that's been left in the toaster for a minute too long, or a dish that's been in the oven past its prime. It doesn't necessarily mean it's completely inedible, but it's definitely past its ideal state. Think of the smell of something burning, that's often a sign that something has 焦げた.
§ What "Kogeru" Means and How to Use It
Let's talk about the Japanese verb “焦げる” (kogeru). This verb is essential for describing situations where something gets burned or scorched, especially in everyday contexts like cooking. It's a useful word to know at the CEFR B1 level because you'll encounter it often in practical situations, whether you're reading a recipe, watching a cooking show, or simply talking about a kitchen mishap.
- DEFINITION
- To burn; to get scorched. It specifically refers to something becoming partially or entirely burned, often resulting in a blackened or crisped state. It implies an accidental or unintentional burning.
Think of “焦げる” as the verb you use when your toast gets too dark, your rice sticks to the bottom of the pot, or even when leaves turn brown from the sun. It describes the state of something becoming burnt or scorched, rather than the act of burning something intentionally (which would be a different verb, “焦がす” or “焼く”, which we can cover another time).
The verb “焦げる” is an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. The thing that is burning is the subject of the sentence. This is a crucial point to remember for correct sentence structure.
パンが少しおよこびりました。
The bread got a little burnt.
Here, “パン” (pan, bread) is the subject, and it's the bread that is in the state of being burnt. You wouldn't use “を” with 焦げる. It's a common mistake for learners, so pay attention to it.
煮込みが焦げてしまった ので、新しく作り直すことになった。
The stew got burnt, so I had to remake it.
You'll often hear “焦げる” in descriptions of food, but its usage isn't limited to the kitchen. It can also describe other things becoming scorched or damaged by heat.
夏の日差しで葉が焦げている 。
The leaves are getting scorched by the summer sun.
In this case, the leaves are the subject, and they are experiencing the scorching effect of the sun. It's a natural phenomenon, not an intentional act.
Here are some key points to remember about 焦げる:
- It's an intransitive verb: The thing that burns is the subject.
- It describes an unintentional or accidental burning/scorching.
- It's commonly used in contexts related to cooking and food.
- It can also describe other objects affected by heat.
Understanding these nuances will help you use 焦げる correctly and sound more natural in your Japanese conversations. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in various situations, and you'll quickly get the hang of it.
§ In the Kitchen: Cooking and Food
The most common place you'll hear 焦げる (kogeru) is in conversations about cooking. It describes food that has been overcooked and started to burn or scorch. This can apply to a wide variety of dishes, from toast to stew.
- DEFINITION
- To burn; to get scorched.
トーストが焦げ
Translation hint: The toast got burnt.
鍋の底が焦げ
Translation hint: The bottom of the pot got scorched (stuck and burnt).
§ At Work or School: Accidents and Mistakes
While less frequent, you might hear 焦げる in a work or school context if there's a minor accident involving heat or friction, leading to something getting scorched. This could be anything from a piece of equipment overheating to a craft project going wrong.
アイロンでシャツを焦がし
Translation hint: I accidentally scorched my shirt with the iron.
§ In News or General Conversation: Sensory Descriptions
You might also encounter 焦げる when someone is describing a smell or a sight related to something burning, even if it's not food. This can be in news reports about fires (though more severe terms would be used for major fires) or in everyday conversation.
何か焦げ
Translation hint: I smell something burning/scorching.
§ Common Situations and Usage
Here's a quick list of scenarios where 焦げる is practical:
- When you leave food on the stove too long.
- When baking and something gets a bit too brown.
- Describing the smell when an electrical appliance overheats.
- Talking about small accidents in art or craft classes involving heat.
Remember, 焦げる is a useful verb for describing the undesirable outcome of heat applied for too long. Keep an ear out for it in these everyday contexts, and you'll quickly become familiar with its practical applications.
§ Confusing 焦げる with 燃える (Moeru) or 焼ける (Yakeru)
Many learners get confused between 焦げる (kogeru), 燃える (moeru), and 焼ける (yakeru). While all three relate to heat, their meanings are distinct. 焦げる specifically refers to something getting scorched or burnt, often implying it's accidental or undesirable. It focuses on the surface or part of an item turning black due to excessive heat.
- DEFINITION
- 焦げる (kogeru): To get scorched, burnt (often accidentally).
On the other hand, 燃える (moeru) means "to burn" in the sense of being on fire, combusting, or even being passionate about something. It implies a more complete and destructive burning process, often with flames.
- DEFINITION
- 燃える (moeru): To burn, to be on fire, to combust.
火が燃えている。(Hi ga moeteiru.)
情熱が燃える。(Jounetsu ga moeru.)
焼ける (yakeru) is broader and can mean "to burn," "to bake," "to grill," or "to get suntanned." It often implies a more controlled or intentional application of heat, or a natural process like getting sunburned. It doesn't necessarily imply scorching or damage.
- DEFINITION
- 焼ける (yakeru): To bake, to grill, to get suntanned, to burn (in a general sense).
パンが焼ける。(Pan ga yakeru.)
肌が焼けた。(Hada ga yaketa.)
§ Incorrect Usage with Transitive Verbs
焦げる is an intransitive verb, meaning it doesn't take a direct object. You cannot "burn something" using 焦げる directly. For that, you would use its transitive counterpart, 焦がす (kogasu).
- DEFINITION
- 焦げる (kogeru): To get scorched (intransitive).
- DEFINITION
- 焦がす (kogasu): To scorch something, to burn something (transitive).
A common mistake is trying to force 焦げる into a transitive sentence structure. For example, you wouldn't say 「私がご飯を焦げる」 (Watashi ga gohan o kogeru - I burn the rice), because the rice is the object being acted upon. Instead, you would say:
ご飯が焦げた。(Gohan ga kogeta.)
If you want to express that you intentionally or accidentally caused the burning, use 焦がす:
ご飯を焦がしてしまった。(Gohan o kogashite shimatta.)
§ Not recognizing its usage in figurative expressions
While 焦げる literally means "to burn/scorch," it's also used in some idiomatic expressions. For example, 焦げ付く (koge tsuku) means "to be stalled, to come to a halt (of a project)" or "to be stuck (like food to a pan)."
- DEFINITION
- 焦げ付く (koge tsuku): To be stalled, to come to a halt (of a project); to be stuck (like food to a pan).
プロジェクトが焦げ付いている。(Purojekuto ga kogetsuite iru.)
Not knowing these extended meanings can lead to misinterpretations. Always pay attention to the context when you encounter 焦げる, especially in more advanced texts.
Don't confuse with 燃える (moeru) or 焼ける (yakeru).
Remember it's an intransitive verb; use 焦がす (kogasu) for transitive actions.
Be aware of its use in figurative expressions like 焦げ付く (kogetsuku).
Fun Fact
The kanji 焦 (koge) independently means 'char' or '焦る' (aseru) meaning 'to be in a hurry, to be impatient'. This connection might hint at the quickness with which things can burn.
Examples by Level
肉が焦げる。
The meat burns/is burning.
A simple statement about something burning.
パンが焦げた。
The bread got burnt.
Using the past tense to describe something that has already burnt.
魚を焦がさないで。
Don't burn the fish.
A negative command, telling someone not to burn something. '焦がす' is the transitive verb form.
卵が焦げそう。
The egg looks like it's about to burn.
Using 'そう' to indicate something appears likely to happen.
ご飯が少し焦げた。
The rice got a little burnt.
Adding '少し' (a little) to describe the degree of burning.
フライパンで焦げ付いた。
It got burnt onto the frying pan.
Using '焦げ付く' which means to get burnt and stick to something.
焦げた匂いがする。
I smell something burning.
Describing the smell of something burning. '焦げた匂い' (burnt smell).
火が強すぎて焦げた。
The fire was too strong and it burnt.
Explaining the reason why something burnt using '〜すぎて' (too much).
魚がフライパンで焦げ付いた。
The fish burned on the frying pan.
パンが少し焦げちゃった。
The bread got a little burnt (colloquial).
カレーを温めすぎて焦がしてしまった。
I heated the curry too much and burned it.
オーブンに入れすぎると、クッキーが焦げるよ。
If you leave it in the oven too long, the cookies will burn.
焦げた匂いがする。何か燃えているの？
I smell something burning. Is something on fire?
焼きすぎると肉が焦げるから気をつけて。
Be careful not to overcook the meat, it will burn.
フライパンの底が焦げ付いて、洗うのが大変だった。
The bottom of the frying pan was scorched, it was hard to wash.
お餅を焼く時は、焦げ付かないように注意しよう。
When grilling mochi, let's be careful not to burn it.
肉を焼きすぎて、真っ黒に焦がしてしまった。
I grilled the meat too much and burned it completely black.
〜すぎる (too much)
パンがトースターの中で焦げた匂いがする。
I smell toast burning in the toaster.
〜匂いがする (to smell of/like something)
ストーブの上に鍋を置きっぱなしにして、底が焦げ付いた。
I left the pot on the stove and the bottom got scorched.
〜っぱなし (leaving something as it is)
うっかりオーブンを消し忘れて、ケーキが焦げてしまった。
I accidentally forgot to turn off the oven, and the cake burned.
〜し忘れる (to forget to do something)
フライパンの油が熱しすぎて、焦げつきそうになった。
The oil in the frying pan got too hot and almost burned.
〜そうになる (to be about to do something)
魚を焼くときは、焦げ付かないように注意してください。
When grilling fish, please be careful not to burn it.
〜ように注意する (to be careful to do something)
たき火でマシュマロを焼いたら、すぐに焦げてしまった。
When I roasted marshmallows over the bonfire, they burned quickly.
〜たら (when/if)
焦げた臭いがしたので、慌てて火を止めた。
I smelled something burning, so I hurriedly put out the fire.
〜ので (because/so)
Often Confused With
This is the transitive form of 焦げる. It means 'to burn (something)' or 'to scorch (something)' intentionally or unintentionally. For example, 'パンを焦がした' (Pan o kogashita) - 'I burnt the bread.'
This is the transitive form of 燃える. It means 'to burn (something)' actively, like burning trash. For example, 'ゴミを燃やす' (Gomi o moyasu) - 'To burn trash.'
A more general term meaning 'to heat' or 'to heat up.' It doesn't specify the method or the outcome, unlike 焦げる which implies scorching.
Easily Confused
Often confused with other verbs related to burning or cooking, but specifically refers to something becoming scorched or burnt, often unintentionally.
This verb focuses on the *result* of burning – the item itself becoming burnt. It implies a degree of damage or overcooking.
パンが焦げちゃった。(Pan ga kogechatta.) - The bread got burnt.
Both relate to burning, but 燃える is about the act of combustion, while 焦げる is about the state of being burnt.
燃える means 'to burn' in the sense of catching fire or being consumed by flames. It describes the process of burning.
紙が燃えている。(Kami ga moete iru.) - The paper is burning.
Both involve heat and cooking, but 焼く is a transitive verb referring to the *action* of grilling, baking, or roasting, often intentionally.
焼く means 'to grill,' 'to bake,' or 'to roast.' It's the active process of applying heat to cook something, not necessarily to burn it.
魚を焼く。(Sakana o yaku.) - To grill fish.
This is specifically for cooking rice, which can be burnt, but the verb itself refers to the cooking process.
炊く means 'to cook (rice).' While rice *can*焦げる (kogiru), 炊く is the verb for the act of cooking it.
ご飯を炊く。(Gohan o taku.) - To cook rice.
This verb is about boiling or simmering, which is a different cooking method, though things cooked this way can also sometimes burn.
煮る means 'to boil' or 'to simmer.' It's a method of cooking in liquid, distinct from direct heat methods that lead to scorching.
野菜を煮る。(Yasai o niru.) - To boil vegetables.
Word Origin
From Old Japanese.
Original meaning: To burn, to char.
Japonic.Cultural Context
When something 焦げる, it usually implies an accident in cooking or a similar situation where something gets burned unintentionally. For example, if you're cooking rice and leave it on the heat for too long, the bottom might 焦げる. It's a common everyday occurrence that Japanese people often discuss in relation to cooking.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsThat's a great question! While all of them relate to burning, they have slightly different nuances. 焦げる (kogeru) specifically means something gets
scorched or burned, often implying it's accidental and might still be salvageable or
just overcooked. Think of toast getting too dark, or a pan getting a little burnt on the bottom.
焼く (yaku) is generally about intentionally grilling, baking, or roasting something. You're trying to cook it. For example, パンを焼く (pan o yaku - to bake bread) or 肉を焼く (niku o yaku - to grill meat).
燃える (moeru) refers to something catching fire and burning, often destructively. Like a house burning down, or a fire burning in a fireplace. It's more about combustion.
So, 焦げる is about the result of heat being too intense for too long, causing scorching.
Absolutely! While it's very common with food, 焦げる (kogeru) can be used for other things that get scorched or burned. For instance, if you leave an iron on clothing for too long, the clothing might 焦げる. Or if a piece of paper gets too close to a flame and just the edges turn black, you could use 焦げる. It focuses on that surface-level scorching or charring.
Not necessarily always negative, but it definitely implies something went a little wrong or got a bit overdone. When your toast 焦げる, it's usually not what you wanted. However, sometimes a slight charring might be desirable in cooking, but even then, if it 'burnt', it implies it went beyond the ideal. So, while it's not always a disaster, it signals a deviation from the perfect state.
The plain form of 焦げる (kogeru) is actually 焦げる itself. It's an ichidan verb, which means its dictionary form ends in -eru or -iru, and you conjugate it by dropping the -ru and adding other endings. So, 焦げる is already in its dictionary/plain form.
To say 'I burnt the toast', you would typically use the causative form of 焦げる, or describe the toast as having burnt.
A common way is: トーストを焦がしてしまった (toosuto o kogashite shimatta).
(焦がす (kogasu) is the transitive verb 'to burn/scorch something', and -てしまう indicates regret or completion).
You could also say: トーストが焦げちゃった (toosuto ga kogechatta) if you want to emphasize that the toast itself got burnt (using the intransitive 焦げる and -ちゃう for casual regret).
Here's an example:
目を離したら、すぐにパンが焦げてしまった。
(Me o hanashitara, sugu ni pan ga kogete shimatta.)
Hint: 'If I took my eyes off it for a second, the bread quickly burnt.'
It can indeed! While less common than its literal use, 焦げる (kogeru) can sometimes be used metaphorically to describe a situation or someone's feelings 'getting scorched' or 'intense'. For example, if someone is really stressed or worried, you might hear a phrase implying their brain is 'burning out' or their heart is 'scorched with worry'. However, this is more nuanced and might not be used as directly as in English. Stick to literal meanings first.
The past tense of 焦げる (kogeru) is 焦げた (kogeta). For example, トーストが焦げた (toosuto ga kogeta) means 'The toast burnt'.
The transitive form of 焦げる (kogeru), which means 'to burn/scorch something (intentionally or unintentionally by an agent)', is 焦がす (kogasu). So, 焦げる is intransitive (something burns by itself), and 焦がす is transitive (someone burns something).
No, you wouldn't typically use 焦げる (kogeru) for a sunburn. For sunburn, the more appropriate Japanese phrase would be 日焼けする (hiyake suru), meaning 'to get a suntan' or 'to get sunburnt'. While a sunburn is a type of 'burning', 焦げる focuses more on scorching from direct heat, often leading to a blackened surface.
Test Yourself 24 questions
This sentence describes bread burning.
This sentence talks about fish being slightly scorched.
This sentence describes meat burning and sticking.
Imagine you're cooking toast and it burns. Write a short sentence in Japanese describing what happened. Use the word "焦げる".
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
トーストが焦げた。
You left your food on the stove too long, and it started to burn. How would you tell someone in Japanese that the food is burning? Use "焦げる".
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
食べ物が焦げている。
Write a sentence in Japanese about a pot that got scorched while cooking. Use "焦げる" in its past tense.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
鍋が焦げた。
この文で、「焦がしてしまいました」は何が起こったことを意味しますか？
Read this passage:
料理中に、うっかりしてパンを焦がしてしまいました。もう食べられないと思います。
この文で、「焦がしてしまいました」は何が起こったことを意味しますか？
「焦がしてしまいました」は、パンが焼けてしまった、つまり焦げたことを意味します。
「焦がしてしまいました」は、パンが焼けてしまった、つまり焦げたことを意味します。
この文から、彼女の料理について何が分かりますか？
Read this passage:
彼女はいつも料理を焦がしてしまうので、心配です。
この文から、彼女の料理について何が分かりますか？
「いつも料理を焦がしてしまう」という表現から、彼女がよく料理を焦がすことが分かります。
「いつも料理を焦がしてしまう」という表現から、彼女がよく料理を焦がすことが分かります。
なぜオーブンをすぐに止めましたか？
Read this passage:
オーブンでケーキを焼いていたら、少し焦げた匂いがしました。すぐにオーブンを止めました。
なぜオーブンをすぐに止めましたか？
「少し焦げた匂いがしました。すぐにオーブンを止めました」という部分から、焦げた匂いがしたためオーブンを止めたことが分かります。
「少し焦げた匂いがしました。すぐにオーブンを止めました」という部分から、焦げた匂いがしたためオーブンを止めたことが分かります。
パンが少し___始めた。
「焦げる」は食べ物が熱で黒くなる、つまり焦げ付く状態を表します。ここではパンが少し黒くなり始めたことを示しています。
料理に気を取られ、肉を___しまった。
「焦がす」は他動詞で、何かを焦げ付かせるという意味です。ここでは肉を焦げ付かせてしまった状況です。
ストーブの上に置いていた鍋が___。
「焦げ付く」は、鍋の底などに食べ物がくっついて焦げる状態を指します。ここでは鍋が焦げ付いた状況を表しています。
電子レンジで温めすぎて、ピザが___。
「焦げる」の過去形です。ピザが熱で黒くなった状態を指します。
ケーキの表面が少し___ほうが美味しい。
ここでは、良い意味で少し焦げ目がついた状態を表しています。焦げた表面が香ばしく美味しいというニュアンスです。
トースターから煙が出て、パンが___音がした。
煙が出てくる状況から、パンが焦げ付いている音がした、という意味合いになります。
焦げ付いた鍋から煙が出ています。これは何を意味しますか？
「焦げ付く」は食べ物が燃えて鍋の底にこびりつく状態を指します。煙が出ていることから、燃え始めていると判断できます。
彼女の顔は太陽に焦げて赤くなっていた。この文脈での「焦げる」の最も近い意味は何ですか？
「焦げる」は、食べ物だけでなく、皮膚が太陽光で焼ける、つまり日焼けする意味でも使われます。
トーストを焦がしてしまったので、朝食はシリアルにしました。この状況で「焦がしてしまった」の感情として最も適切なものは何ですか？
トーストを焦がしてしまうと、食べられなくなるため、普通はがっかりするものです。
料理中に焦げ付いた匂いがしたら、火を止めるべきではない。
焦げ付いた匂いがするということは、何かが燃え始めている証拠なので、火を止めるべきです。
木材が焦げると、黒くなるのが一般的である。
木材が熱によって燃えたり焦げたりすると、炭化して黒く変色します。
焦げ付いた鍋は、すぐに水につけると簡単にきれいになる。
焦げ付いた鍋は、熱いまま水につけると急激な温度変化で鍋を傷める可能性があります。少し冷ましてから洗うか、焦げ付きを柔らかくしてから洗うのが一般的です。
/ 24 correct
Perfect score!
Example
パンが少し焦げてしまいました。
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).
