1.
to boil down; to simmer down; to reduce
To cook a liquid until it reduces in volume, concentrating flavors.
ソースを煮詰める。
Reduce the sauce.
煮汁を半分になるまで煮詰める。
Boil down the cooking liquid until it's reduced by half.
弱火でじっくり煮詰めると濃厚な味になる。
Simmering slowly over low heat creates a rich flavor.
2.
to thrash out; to finalize; to hammer out
To discuss something thoroughly until reaching a conclusion or final form.
議論を煮詰める。
To thrash out a discussion.
企画を煮詰める段階に入った。
We've entered the stage of finalizing the plan.
詳細を煮詰めてから契約書を作成する。
We'll finalize the details before drafting the contract.
CONJUGATION:
- 煮詰める (dictionary form)
- 煮詰めない (negative)
- 煮詰めた (past)
- 煮詰めて (te-form)
Verb type: 一段動詞 (ichidan verb)
Transitivity: 他動詞 (transitive)
Pair: 煮詰まる (intransitive)
SENSE 1 (COOKING):
- Reduces liquid by evaporation
- Concentrates flavors
SENSE 2 (FIGURATIVE):
- Used for discussions, plans, projects
- Means to work out details thoroughly
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ソースを煮詰める: to reduce sauce
- 議論を煮詰める: to thrash out a discussion
- 企画を煮詰める: to finalize a plan
NOTE ON 煮詰まる:
The intransitive 煮詰まる has developed a negative meaning "to reach a stalemate" (discussions boiling dry), though traditionally it meant "to be finalized."