1.
grilled rice cake; toasted mochi
Mochi that has been grilled or toasted, typically over a flame or in a toaster oven, causing it to puff up and develop a crispy exterior.
焼き餅を食べる。
To eat grilled mochi.
お正月に焼き餅を焼いた。
I grilled mochi on New Year's.
醤油をつけた焼き餅が一番好きだ。
I like grilled mochi with soy sauce the best.
2.
jealousy; envy (especially in romantic relationships)
Jealousy, particularly the kind felt in romantic or close personal relationships. Often used in a somewhat lighthearted or teasing way.
焼き餅を焼く。
To be jealous.
彼女はすぐ焼き餅を焼く。
She gets jealous easily.
そんなに焼き餅を焼かないで、ただの友達だよ。
Don't be so jealous — we're just friends.
This word has two distinct meanings connected by a pun on the verb 焼く (to grill/burn). Sense 1 is literal grilled mochi. Sense 2 uses the expression 焼き餅を焼く, which literally means "to grill grilled mochi" but idiomatically means "to be jealous."
USAGE:
The jealousy sense is most commonly used in the phrase 焼き餅を焼く. It tends to describe romantic jealousy and has a somewhat playful or teasing tone compared to the more serious 嫉妬.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 焼き餅を焼く — to be jealous (sense 2); to grill mochi (sense 1)
- 焼き餅焼き — a jealous person
- 醤油焼き餅 — soy sauce grilled mochi
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 嫉妬 — jealousy (stronger, more serious)
- 妬む — to envy, to be jealous of (verb)
- 羨ましい — envious (less negative, more admiring)