Translation guide
How to express that something is used up, eaten, or destroyed by fire in Japanese. The most natural translation depends on what is being consumed and the context.
To say that a resource, time, or energy is used up or expended.
Passive form of 消費する (to consume). Used for resources, goods, energy, etc. Neutral and common.
この製品は多くのエネルギーを消費される。
This product consumes a lot of energy.
Passive of 費やす (to spend/expend). Often used for time, effort, or money being spent, sometimes with a nuance of being used up wastefully.
多くの時間がそのプロジェクトに費やされた。
A lot of time was spent on that project.
Passive of 消耗する (to consume/wear out). Implies depletion or exhaustion of supplies, stamina, etc. More technical or formal.
資源が急速に消耗されている。
Resources are being rapidly consumed.
To say that food or prey is eaten, often with a nuance of being completely consumed.
Passive of 食べる (to eat). The most common way to say something is eaten. Can also mean 'can eat' depending on context, but passive is clear in context.
そのケーキはあっという間に食べられた。
The cake was eaten in no time.
Passive of 食う (to eat, more rough/casual). Often used for animals eating prey or in dramatic contexts. Can sound rough or literary.
小魚が大きな魚に食われた。
The small fish was eaten by a bigger fish.
Can be used for food consumption in formal or statistical contexts (e.g., 'consumed per capita'). Not for everyday eating.
年間で大量の米が消費される。
A large amount of rice is consumed annually.
To say that something is destroyed or engulfed by fire.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be destroyed by fire'. Commonly used in news reports. The passive 焼失される is less common.
家が火事で焼失した。
The house was consumed by fire.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to burn out/completely'. Emphasizes complete burning. Can be used for fire or metaphorically for passion.
ろうそくが燃え尽きた。
The candle burned out (was consumed).
Literally 'to be enveloped in flames'. More dramatic and literary. Describes the state of being engulfed rather than the result.
建物が炎に包まれた。
The building was consumed by flames.
To express being overwhelmed or driven by a strong emotion.
Pattern meaning 'to be possessed by ~'. Used for negative emotions like jealousy, fear, or obsession. Replace ～ with the emotion.
彼は嫉妬に取り憑かれている。
He is consumed by jealousy.
Pattern meaning 'to be driven by ~'. Often used for impulses or urges, like curiosity or desire. Slightly less intense than 取り憑かれる.
彼女は好奇心に駆られて部屋に入った。
She entered the room, consumed by curiosity.
Pattern meaning 'to become a captive of ~'. Used for being captivated or obsessed, often with a nuance of being a slave to something. Can be positive or negative.
彼はギャンブルのとりこになった。
He became consumed by gambling.
English 'be consumed' covers many meanings, but Japanese uses different verbs for each. Do not try to use a single Japanese word for all cases. For example, 'consumed by fire' is not 消費される but 焼失する or 燃え尽きる.
食べられる is the standard passive for 'be eaten'. 食われる is more vivid, often used for animals or in dramatic storytelling. In everyday conversation about food, stick to 食べられる.