Translation guide
To present old ideas or content again with little or no meaningful change, often in a slightly altered form.
Express that someone is repeating the same content or ideas in a slightly different form, often with a negative nuance of being unoriginal.
Literally 're-baking', this is the most common and natural way to say 'rehash' for creative works, ideas, or stories. It implies taking something old and presenting it as new with only superficial changes.
Express that a topic, argument, or discussion is being repeated without any new insight or resolution.
焼き直し is the most general term for a rehash and can be used for any kind of content. 二番煎じ specifically emphasizes that the rehash is inferior to the original, like a weak second cup of tea. Use 二番煎じ when you want to stress the lack of originality and quality.
その小説は古典の焼き直しだが、よく書けている。
That novel is a rehash of a classic, but it's well-written.
その小説は古典の二番煎じで、読む価値がない。
That novel is a poor rehash of a classic and not worth reading.
その記事は古いニュースの焼き直しに過ぎなかった。
The article was just a rehash of old news.
同じ議論を蒸し返すのはやめよう。
Let's not rehash the same argument.
その映画は昔のヒット作の焼き直しだ。
That movie is just a rehash of an old hit.
彼の新曲は前のアルバムの焼き直しに過ぎない。
His new song is nothing but a rehash of the previous album.
Literally 'second brewing of tea', this idiom means a rehash or imitation that is weaker than the original. It carries a stronger negative nuance of being a poor copy.
その企画は他社の成功事例の二番煎じだ。
That project is just a rehash of another company's success story.
Means reusing something (ideas, content, materials) without change. Often used for recycled plots, jokes, or designs. Less formal than 焼き直し.
そのドラマの展開は他の作品の使い回しだ。
The plot development in that drama is a rehash of other works.
Loanword from English 'remake'. Used specifically for movies, games, or songs that are officially remade. It does not always carry the negative nuance of 'rehash', but can be used in that sense when the remake is seen as unoriginal.
あのゲームのリメイクは単なる焼き直しだった。
The remake of that game was just a rehash.
Literally 'to steam again', this verb means to bring up an old topic or argument again, often in a way that is annoying or unproductive. It is the best fit for rehashing discussions.
その話をまた蒸し返さないでくれ。
Don't rehash that topic again.
会議で同じ問題を蒸し返すのは時間の無駄だ。
Rehashing the same issue in the meeting is a waste of time.
General verb meaning 'to repeat'. When used for discussions or ideas, it can imply rehashing, but it lacks the negative nuance unless context makes it clear.
彼は同じ主張を繰り返すだけだった。
He just kept rehashing the same argument.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly translates 'to rehash' in all contexts. Using 再ハッシュする or similar made-up words will not be understood. Choose the appropriate phrase based on whether you mean reusing content (焼き直し) or rehashing a discussion (蒸し返す).
There is no single Japanese verb that directly translates 'to rehash' in all contexts. Using 再ハッシュする or similar made-up words will not be understood. Choose the appropriate phrase based on whether you mean reusing content (焼き直し) or rehashing a discussion (蒸し返す).