Translation guide
The activity or process of cooking food using dry heat, typically in an oven. In Japanese, the concept is expressed through verbs, nouns, and specific cooking terms depending on what is being baked.
To refer to the act of baking in general, such as baking bread, cakes, or cookies.
The most common verb for baking, grilling, or roasting. Used for bread, cakes, cookies, and other baked goods. Context clarifies the method.
パンを焼くのが好きです。
I like baking bread.
ケーキを焼いています。
I am baking a cake.
Loanword from English, used in modern contexts, especially in baking recipes or trendy cooking. Often used as a noun in compounds like ベイクドチーズケーキ (baked cheesecake).
このレシピは簡単にベイクできます。
You can easily bake this recipe.
Noun form meaning 'baking' or 'grilling'. Often used in compound words like パン焼き (bread baking) or 焼き菓子 (baked sweets).
焼き時間は30分です。
The baking time is 30 minutes.
To talk about baking as a regular activity, skill, or job.
Literally 'making sweets'. This is the most natural way to refer to baking as a hobby, especially for cakes, cookies, and pastries.
週末はお菓子作りを楽しんでいます。
I enjoy baking on weekends.
Specifically 'bread making/baking'. Use this when the focus is on bread.
パン作りは難しいけど楽しい。
Baking bread is difficult but fun.
To give or follow instructions for baking something.
Standard phrase meaning 'bake in the oven'. Used in recipes to specify oven baking as opposed to other methods.
180度のオーブンで20分焼きます。
Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for 20 minutes.
Noun meaning 'freshly baked' or 'completion of baking'. Often used to describe the state of being done baking.
焼き上がりに粉砂糖をふります。
Dust with powdered sugar after baking.
To refer to items that have been baked, such as bread, pastries, or cakes.
General term for baked sweets and pastries, like cookies, madeleines, and scones.
この店の焼き菓子はとても美味しい。
The baked goods at this shop are very delicious.
Prefix meaning 'baked', used in loanwords like ベイクドチーズケーキ (baked cheesecake) or ベイクドポテト (baked potato).
ベイクドチーズケーキが好きです。
I like baked cheesecake.
The English word 'baking' is sometimes used in Japanese as ベイキング, but it's not common in everyday speech. It appears mainly in compound terms like ベイキングパウダー (baking powder). For the activity, use 焼く or お菓子作り.
ベイキングが好きです。
I like baking. (unnatural)
焼く is a verb that covers baking, grilling, and roasting. お菓子作り specifically means making sweets and implies baking as a hobby. Use 焼く when the method is important, and お菓子作り when the activity is the focus.
お菓子作りが一番の趣味です。
Baking is my favorite hobby.
焼き時間はオーブンによって異なります。
The baking time depends on the oven.