Translation guide
The English phrasal verb "burn off" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common uses: removing or eliminating something by burning, using up energy or calories through physical activity, and dissipating fog or mist through sunlight. It also includes a less common meaning related to industrial processes.
To eliminate or clear something using fire or intense heat, such as weeds, paint, or hair.
Literally 'burn and clear away'. Used for burning off vegetation, fields, or unwanted material over an area.
The farmer burned off the weeds in the field.
Means 'burn through' or 'burn off' by cutting with heat. Often used for removing something attached, like paint or a wire, by burning.
I burned off the paint with a burner.
Emphasizes burning something completely until nothing is left. Suitable for burning off waste or debris.
They burned off the trash completely.
A more descriptive phrase meaning 'burn and drop off'. Used for removing something like old paint or rust by applying heat until it falls away.
I burned off the old coating.
To expend energy or calories through physical exercise or activity.
The standard verb for 'consume' or 'burn' in the context of calories or energy. Often used with カロリー (calories).
I burn off calories by jogging.
Means 'combust' or 'burn'. In fitness contexts, it refers to burning fat or calories. Often used in compound nouns like 脂肪燃焼 (fat burning).
This exercise burns off fat.
Literally 'use up energy'. A natural way to say you burned off energy, especially for children or pets.
When fog, mist, or clouds disappear due to the sun's heat.
The most common verb for fog or mist clearing up. It implies the sky becomes clear.
The morning mist burned off.
Simply means 'disappear'. Can be used for fog or clouds vanishing, but less specific than 晴れる.
A descriptive phrase: 'the fog disappears due to sunlight'. Natural but more wordy.
The fog burned off in the sunlight.
In manufacturing or chemistry, to remove a substance by heating or combustion, such as burning off impurities or coatings.
Do not use 燃やす (to burn) directly with calories in everyday speech. While カロリーを燃やす is sometimes seen in advertising, 消費する is the standard, natural verb for burning calories through exercise.
焼き払う focuses on clearing an area by burning (e.g., a field), while 燃やし尽くす emphasizes complete consumption by fire (e.g., a pile of trash). Use 焼き払う for land management and 燃やし尽くす for destroying objects.
The kids burned off their energy at the park.
The fog burned off in the sun.