Translation guide
Describes food that is only partially cooked, either intentionally or by accident. The most common Japanese expression is 半熟 (hanjuku), but other terms apply depending on the food and context.
Describing food that is intentionally cooked only partway, such as soft-boiled eggs or rare meat.
Literally 'half-ripe/cooked'. Most common for eggs (soft-boiled, poached) and sometimes for meat. Often used in compound words like 半熟卵 (soft-boiled egg).
半熟卵が好きです。
I like soft-boiled eggs.
このオムレツは半熟でお願いします。
Please make this omelet runny/soft.
Means 'half-baked' or 'underdone', often with a negative nuance (accidentally undercooked). Used for baked goods, meat, fish, etc.
このパンはまだ生焼けだ。
This bread is still half-baked.
肉が生焼けだったので、もう一度焼いた。
The meat was undercooked, so I cooked it again.
Literally 'half-raw'. Used for foods that are partially raw, like some sweets or fish dishes. Can also mean 'rare' for meat.
このチョコレートは半生タイプです。
This chocolate is a half-raw (soft) type.
Borrowed from English 'rare'. Used specifically for meat doneness. Often combined with 焼き (yaki) as in レア焼き.
ステーキはレアでお願いします。
I'd like my steak rare, please.
Describing food that is not fully cooked, often with a negative connotation (raw inside, doughy, etc.).
The most direct term for undercooked food, implying it should have been cooked more. Works for baked goods, meat, fish, etc.
ケーキが生焼けで、中がドロドロだった。
The cake was undercooked and gooey inside.
Literally 'the fire hasn't passed through'. A common, natural way to say something isn't cooked through.
この鶏肉、まだ火が通っていないよ。
This chicken isn't cooked through yet.
Means 'the inside is raw'. Used when the outside looks cooked but the inside is still raw.
表面は焼けてるけど、中が生だ。
The surface is cooked, but the inside is raw.
Specifically for rice or grains that are partially cooked, often with a hard center.
Literally 'the core remains'. Used for rice or pasta that is still hard in the center. Often used as 芯が残っている (the core is remaining).
ご飯に芯が残っている。
The rice is still hard in the middle.
Literally 'half-boiled'. Can be used for rice or other boiled foods that are not fully cooked. Less common than 芯が残る.
このお米は半煮えだ。
This rice is half-cooked.
半熟 (hanjuku) is usually positive or neutral, implying intentional partial cooking (e.g., soft-boiled eggs). 生焼け (namayake) is usually negative, implying a mistake or undercooking. Use 半熟 for desired runny yolks, and 生焼け for doughy bread or raw chicken.
The direct translation '半分調理された' (hanbun chouri sareta) is not natural Japanese. Use the terms above depending on context.