1.
to cook (rice)
To prepare rice by boiling.
ご飯を炊く。
To cook rice.
炊飯器で炊く。
To cook in a rice cooker.
玄米を炊く。
To cook brown rice.
炊きたてのご飯。
Freshly cooked rice.
朝ご飯を炊く。
To cook rice for breakfast.
お祝いの日に赤飯を炊いた。
I cooked red rice for the celebration.
2.
to boil
To cook food in water.
大豆を炊く。
To boil soybeans.
小豆を炊く。
To boil red beans.
煮物を炊く。
To simmer a stew.
季節の野菜をたっぷりの水で炊いた。
I boiled seasonal vegetables in plenty of water.
京都では大根や里芋をじっくり炊いた料理が有名だ。
In Kyoto, dishes where daikon radish and taro are slowly simmered are famous.
炊く specifically means to cook rice or grains by boiling.
TRANSITIVITY:
Transitive verb (他動詞). Takes を particle.
COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
- ご飯を炊く: to cook rice
- 炊きたて: freshly cooked
- 炊飯器: rice cooker
- 炊き込みご飯: mixed rice (cooked with ingredients)
KANJI DISTINCTION:
- 炊く: to cook (rice, grains)
- 焚く: to burn, kindle (fire, incense)
CONTRAST WITH OTHER COOKING VERBS:
- 炊く: for rice/grains
- 煮る: to simmer, stew
- 茹でる: to boil (pasta, vegetables)
- 焼く: to grill, bake