Translation guide
To destroy a building or structure by fire, either intentionally or accidentally. Can be used transitively (someone burns down a building) or intransitively (a building burns down).
Expressing that someone deliberately or accidentally causes a building to burn to the ground.
Literally 'burn and clear away'. Emphasizes complete destruction by fire, often intentional. Used for buildings, fields, etc.
They burned down the entire village.
Formal/technical term meaning 'to cause to burn completely'. Often used in news reports.
The arsonist burned down the warehouse.
Literally 'burn by fire'. Used when a building is destroyed by fire, often accidental. Note: this is intransitive, so you need to rephrase the English transitive sentence.
The house burned down in a fire.
General 'to burn'. Not specific to buildings; can be used for any object. To specify 'burn down', add context like 'completely'.
Without context, 燃やす just means 'burn'. Use 焼き払う or add 全焼させる for clarity.
He burned down his own house.
Expressing that a building catches fire and burns to the ground, without specifying an agent.
Standard term for 'burn down completely' (intransitive). Used in news and everyday speech.
The factory burned down last night.
Literally 'burn and fall'. Emphasizes the collapse of the structure while burning.
Means 'burn out' or 'burn completely'. Can be used for buildings, but also for fires, candles, etc.
Formal term meaning 'be destroyed by fire'. Often used in official reports.
The cultural property burned down.
Expressing complete destruction or eradication, often metaphorically.
English 'burn down' can be both transitive and intransitive. In Japanese, you must choose the correct verb form. Use 焼き払う (transitive) when someone does the burning, and 全焼する (intransitive) when the building burns by itself.
He burned down the house.
The house burned down.
Do not translate 'burn down' as 燃やす + 下. That would mean 'burn underneath' and is incorrect.
古い家が焼け落ちた。
The old house burned down.
The building burned down.
火は町を焼き尽くした。
The fire burned down the town.