1.
to burn in; to brand
To burn an image or mark onto something.
鉄に印を焼き付ける。
To brand a mark onto iron.
2.
to sear into memory; to imprint
To make a strong impression that stays in one's mind.
その光景は目に焼き付いている。
That scene is seared into my eyes.
彼女の笑顔を心に焼き付けた。
I imprinted her smile in my heart.
CONJUGATION:
- 焼き付ける → 焼き付けない (negative)
- 焼き付ける → 焼き付けて (te-form)
- 焼き付ける → 焼き付けた (past)
FORMATION:
Compound verb: 焼く (to burn) + 付ける (to attach)
USAGE:
Often used in the intransitive form 焼き付く:
- 目に焼き付く (to be seared into one's eyes)
- 心に焼き付く (to be imprinted on one's heart)
- 記憶に焼き付く (to be burned into memory)
The metaphorical sense (sense 2) is more common in everyday speech.