【Nihongo-Level ★★☆☆】How to use these similar meaning verbs correctly

Japanese Learners might make a mistake?

Hi I’m Satomi. I have taught Japanese to foreigners for more than 4 years. I realized some of them might make a mistake even if they are intermediate students.Today, I want to explain how to distinguish them.

Quiz

Choose the appropriate verb.

aゆでる　bたく　cむす　dにる

1.こめを　（　　）。
2.パスタを（　　）。
3.肉まんを（　　）。
4.カレーを（　　）。

*I’ll show you these answers at last!

Introducing the way of using them

たく（炊く・TAKU）

：To add water, soup stock, seasonings, etc. to food and heat to moisten it.
　After cooking is complete, no water is left behind and the food absorbs the moisture and becomes fluffy.

※Caution
　”たく” rarely used in eastern Japan except for “cooking rice”.
　On the other hand, in Kansai, the word “たく” is used to describe “boiling in water that has been completely filled with water”.

ゆでる（茹でる・YUDERU）

：To heat the food through to the center. Not to flavor with any seasonings except for salt. (Sometimes salt is added to boiling water.)

むす（蒸す・MUSU）

：Indirect heating of food by placing it in steam.

にる（煮る・NIRU）

：To put ingredients in water, broth, or other liquid to heat and season.

※Caution
　The difference from “ゆでる” is that not only the cooked food but also the broth is served together.

Example sentence

米を　たく。/ 米（こめ）＝rice

ごはんを　たく。/ごはん　＝rice

パスタを　ゆでる。/パスタ＝pasta

野菜を　ゆでる。/野菜（やさい）＝vegetable

肉まんを　むす。/肉まん（にくまん）＝manju (steamed bun) with meat filling

プリンを　むす。/プリン＝pudding

カレーを　にる。/カレー＝curry

魚を　にる。/魚（さかな）＝fish

スープを　にる。/スープ＝soup

Answer of Quiz

1.こめを　（たく）。
2.パスタを（ゆでる）。
3.肉まんを（むす）。
4.カレーを（にる）。

How to put yourself in an environment where Japanese is used a lot.

1.You can ask your questions face to face outside of lessons!
2.You can discuss with English learners through writing whenever you want!
3.You can find language partners safely!

Please check our website if you would like to experience a new way to learn Japanese.