Japanese word

煮る

Pronunciation

Romajiniru

Meaning

  • verbboil

Example

母は野菜を水で煮ます。haha wa ya sai o mizu de ni ma su

Mother boils vegetables in water.

Illustration for 煮る (boil)

More examples

鍋で魚を煮て、夕食に出します。nabe de sakana o ni te yū shoku ni da shi ma su

I simmer fish in a pot and serve it for dinner.

Core concept

Presents food as becoming tender through sustained heating in a liquid, whether the liquid boils strongly or simmers gently.

Common phrases

  • 水で煮るmizu de ni ru

    boil in water

  • 野菜を煮るya sai o ni ru

    boil vegetables

Similar words

茹でるyuderu: To cook food in boiling water or another liquid until it is done.
煮込むnikomu: To cook food in liquid for a relatively long time until it becomes tender and absorbs flavor.

Definition in Japanese

食材を液体に入れて火にかけ、煮立たせたり静かに熱したりして火を通す。shoku zai o eki tai ni i re te hi ni ka ke ni ta ta se ta ri shizu ka ni nes shi ta ri shi te hi o tō su

Word origin

煮る (niru, "to boil or simmer") is a native Japanese verb built from 煮 (ni, "boiling or simmering") and the verb ending る (ru).

Usage tips

  • The English word simmer suggests gentle heat, but 煮る (niru) is a broader everyday cooking term that also covers cooking food in vigorously boiling liquid.

Other meanings

  • simmerverb
  • stewverb

Related words

Word lists with this word