蒸(む)し返(かえ)す

むしかえす
verb (godan, transitive)
to bring up again, to rehash
1. to steam again, to reheat (food)
To heat food again by steaming. The literal meaning of the compound.
ご飯(はん)を蒸(む)し返(かえ)す。
Reheat the rice by steaming.
冷(さ)めた饅頭(まんじゅう)を蒸(む)し返(かえ)して食(た)べる。
Reheat the cold manju and eat it.
蒸(む)し返(かえ)した料理(りょうり)は味(あじ)が落(お)ちる。
Reheated food loses its flavor.
2. to bring up again, to rehash, to reopen
To raise an old topic, issue, or argument that was thought to be settled. Usually has a negative connotation.
過去(かこ)の話(はなし)を蒸(む)し返(かえ)す。
Bring up old stories again.
終(お)わった話(はなし)を蒸(む)し返(かえ)さないでほしい。
I don't want you to bring up what's already been settled.
彼女(かのじょ)は喧嘩(けんか)のたびに昔(むかし)のことを蒸(む)し返(かえ)す。
She rehashes old issues every time we fight.

蒸(む)し返(かえ)す literally means to steam again, but is commonly used figuratively for bringing up old topics.

CONJUGATION (godan verb):

  • Dictionary: 蒸(む)し返(かえ)す
  • Negative: 蒸(む)し返(かえ)さない
  • Past: 蒸(む)し返(かえ)した
  • Te-form: 蒸(む)し返(かえ)して

USAGE NOTE: The figurative sense (sense 2) usually has a negative connotation, implying that the matter should have been left alone.

general
Added 2026.2.1 16:50
09000/09343_mushikaesu