How to Say "Burn" in Japanese

ひりひりする

The Japanese verb for burn is ひりひりする. If unsure, use ひりひりする. Wiktionary also lists ヒリヒリする (hiri-hiri suru).

Meaning: to consume, injure, or change the condition of, as if by action of fire or heat (verb)

Ways to say it

“burn” in Japanese
Japanese	Romanization (Wiktionary)
ひりひりする
ヒリヒリする	hiri-hiri suru

The verb ひりひりする is used to describe the stinging or smarting sensation of a burn on the skin, rather than the act of setting something on fire.

The phrase is an onomatopoeic expression where ひりひり represents the sharp, stinging sensation of heat or irritation.

While ひりひりする describes the stinging sensation, やけどをする is the standard way to say one has sustained a burn injury.

To describe a continuous sensation of burning currently being felt, use the progressive form ひりひりしている.

In Japanese, the word ひりひり can also describe a feeling of mental or emotional irritation, such as the 'stinging' sensation of a harsh or stinging remark.
The expression ひりひりする is not limited to heat and can also be used to describe the stinging sensation of spicy food, like eating a chili pepper.
The sensation of ひりひり is distinct from ちくちく, which describes a 'prickling' burn like that from a needle or a nettle.

木が焼けました
The wood burned.
家が燃えています
The house is burning.
焼けちゃった
It got burned.
落ち葉が焼けて美しい香りがします。
The fallen leaves are burning, giving off a beautiful aroma.
彼は手をやけどしてしまった。
He burned his hand by accident.
キャンドルが燃えているのを見るのは好きです。
I like watching candles burn.
傷口がひりひりする。
kizuguchi ga hirihiri suru.
The wound is stinging.
日焼けで肌がひりひりする。
hiyake de hada ga hirihiri suru.
My skin is stinging from a sunburn.

Two friends are talking after a day at the beach.

大翔 Hiroto

美咲、背中が真っ赤だよ。
Misaki, senaka ga makka dayo.
Misaki, your back is bright red.
美咲 Misaki

本当だ。すごくひりひりする。
Hontou da. Sugoku hirihiri suru.
You're right. It really burns.
大翔 Hiroto

冷たい薬を塗ったほうがいいよ。
Tsumetai kusuri o nutta hou ga ii yo.
You should put on some cooling medicine.
美咲 Misaki

ありがとう、大翔。
Arigatou, Hiroto.
Thanks, Hiroto.

Sources

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