Translation guide
The English verb 'scorch' refers to burning the surface of something, often leaving a mark, or to drying out with intense heat. This guide covers natural Japanese equivalents for these meanings.
To lightly burn or singe the surface of something, often leaving a brown or black mark.
Transitive verb meaning to scorch, burn, or singe something. Commonly used for food, fabric, etc.
アイロンでシャツを焦がしてしまった。
I scorched my shirt with the iron.
彼はうっかりしてトーストを焦がした。
He carelessly scorched the toast.
Intransitive verb meaning to become scorched or burnt. Use when the subject itself gets scorched.
魚が焦げる匂いがする。
I smell something scorching (like fish burning).
Intransitive verb meaning to be scorched or charred, often by fire. Stronger than 焦げる.
火事で壁が焼け焦げた。
The wall was scorched by the fire.
General verb for grilling, baking, or burning. Can imply scorching in context, but less specific.
強火で焼きすぎて表面が焦げた。
I grilled it over high heat and the surface got scorched.
To dry or wither something with intense heat, like the sun scorching plants.
Transitive verb meaning to let plants wither or die, often from heat or lack of water.
日照りが続いて庭の花を枯らしてしまった。
The drought continued and scorched the garden flowers.
Intransitive verb meaning to wither or die (of plants).
Intransitive verb meaning to be scorching hot, often used for the sun or ground.
To move at high speed, as in 'scorch along the road'.
Literally 'run at fierce speed'. Natural way to express moving very fast.
車が猛スピードで道路を走り去った。
The car scorched down the road.
Verb meaning to let something fly, often used for driving fast.
彼は高速道路を飛ばして行った。
He scorched along the highway.
To criticize someone severely.
To criticize harshly or pan.
批評家がその映画を酷評した。
The critic scorched the movie.
To tear down verbally, criticize severely.
上司が彼の提案をこき下ろした。
The boss scorched his proposal.
English 'scorch' for sun damage is often better expressed with 枯れる (wither) or 日焼けする (sunburn) rather than direct burn verbs.
焦がす is transitive (someone scorches something), while 焦げる is intransitive (something gets scorched). Use the correct one based on the subject.
日差しで芝生が枯れた。
The sun scorched the grass.
Natural Japanese uses 'wither' rather than a direct burn verb.
フライパンを焦がした。
I scorched the pan.
The lawn was scorched by the heat.
The scorching sun damaged the crops.