Japanese word

焦げる

Pronunciation

Romajikogeru

Meaning

  • verbburn

Example

パンが焦げます。pa n ga ko ge ma su

The bread burns.

Illustration for 焦げる (burn)

More examples

弱火でも長く煮ると、鍋の底が焦げます。yowa bi de mo naga ku ni ru to nabe no soko ga ko ge ma su

Even over low heat, the bottom of the pot burns if you simmer it for too long.

Core concept

Presents burning as an unwanted change that happens to the object itself, especially food or a surface.

Common phrases

  • 黒く焦げるkuro ku ko ge ru

    burn black

  • 少し焦げるsuko shi ko ge ru

    burn slightly

  • 焦げてしまうko ge te shi ma u

    end up burning

Similar words

焼けるyakeru: To reach a cooked or browned state through heating.
燃えるmoeru: To be consumed by fire or remain alight with flames.

Definition in Japanese

火や熱が加わりすぎて、食べ物や物の表面が黒く焼ける。hi ya netsu ga kuwa wa ri su gi te ta be mono ya mono no hyō men ga kuro ku ya ke ru

Word origin

焦げる (kogeru) is a native Japanese verb associated with 焦ぐ (kogu), an older verb meaning "to scorch"; modern 焦がす (kogasu) is its related transitive form.

Usage tips

  • The compound 焦げ茶色 (kogecha-iro) names a deep brown color associated with scorched tea, extending the verb's sense from an event to a familiar color description.

Other meanings

  • charverb
  • scorchverb

Related words

  • 焦げkogescorchnoun

Word lists with this word