Japanese word

焚く

Pronunciation

Romajitaku

Meaning

  • verblight a fire

Example

キャンプで火を焚きます。kya n pu de hi o ta ki ma su

We light a fire at camp.

Illustration for 焚く (light a fire)

More examples

寒い朝は、湯を沸かすために薪を焚きます。samu i asa wa yu o wa ka su ta me ni takigi o ta ki ma su

On cold mornings, we burn firewood to heat water.

Core concept

It centers on turning fuel such as wood into a useful, sustained fire.

Common phrases

  • 火を焚くhi o ta ku

    light a fire

  • 薪を焚くtakigi o ta ku

    burn firewood

Similar words

燃やすmoyasu: To burn fuel so that it produces heat or flames.

Definition in Japanese

燃料となる木や薪に火をつけ、燃焼させて火を起こす。nen ryō to na ru ki ya takigi ni hi o tsu ke nen shō sa se te hi o o ko su

Word origin

焚く (taku, "to burn or kindle") is a native Japanese verb, and its stem 焚き (taki, "kindling") appears in 焚き火 (takibi, "bonfire").

Usage tips

  • Although 焚く (taku) and 炊く (taku) sound alike, 焚く means making a fire, while 炊く means cooking food with heat.

Other meanings

  • burnverb
  • make a fireverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 焚き方takikataway of lighting a firenoun

Word lists with this word