Translation guide
The English verb 'boil' covers several distinct actions and states in Japanese. The most common distinction is between boiling water or liquid (intransitive) and boiling something in water (transitive). There are also specific verbs for simmering, boiling down, and boiling over. This guide organizes the main uses from most common to more specific.
Describing water or a liquid reaching boiling point and bubbling.
Cooking by boiling food in water.
The most common verb for boiling food like pasta, vegetables, or eggs. Transitive.
Heating water until it boils, often for tea or cooking.
The standard transitive verb for boiling water. Used when you boil water in a kettle or pot.
Cooking at a low boil, just below or at a gentle bubble.
To simmer or stew for a long time, often to develop flavor.
Boiling a liquid to reduce its volume and concentrate flavor.
When a boiling liquid spills over the edge of a pot.
To be extremely angry, as if boiling inside.
沸く (わく) is intransitive: water boils by itself. 沸かす (わかす) is transitive: you boil water. 茹でる (ゆでる) is transitive for boiling food in water. Do not use 沸かす for food.
Saying 野菜が沸く (vegetables boil) is incorrect. Use 茹でる for boiling food.
Boil the eggs for 10 minutes.
Boil pasta.
Please boil the eggs.
Boil or simmer food, often in a seasoned broth. Used for dishes like nimono (simmered dishes).
Boil/simmer meat.
Specifically for boiling/steaming rice. Not used for other foods.
Cook rice (by boiling).
Boil water.
Please boil water in the kettle.
Simmer the curry.
Onomatopoeic phrase for simmering gently with a light bubbling sound.
Simmer the soup gently.
To boil down, reduce a liquid by boiling. Often used for sauces or jams.
Boil down the sauce.
Specifically for liquid boiling over and spilling out of a pot.
The milk boiled over.
Idiomatic phrase meaning to boil with rage. Literally 'boil and churn'.
I'm boiling with anger.
More literal expression: 'anger boils'. Somewhat formal.
His anger boiled over.
The kettle is boiling.