Translation guide
To present old ideas or content again with little or no meaningful change, often in a slightly altered form.
Express that someone is repeating the same content or ideas in a slightly different form, often with a negative nuance of being unoriginal.
Literally 're-baking', this is the most common and natural way to say 'rehash' for creative works, ideas, or stories. It implies taking something old and presenting it as new with only superficial changes.
That movie is just a rehash of an old hit.
His new song is nothing but a rehash of the previous album.
Literally 'second brewing of tea', this idiom means a rehash or imitation that is weaker than the original. It carries a stronger negative nuance of being a poor copy.
That project is just a rehash of another company's success story.
Means reusing something (ideas, content, materials) without change. Often used for recycled plots, jokes, or designs. Less formal than 焼き直し.
The plot development in that drama is a rehash of other works.
Loanword from English 'remake'. Used specifically for movies, games, or songs that are officially remade. It does not always carry the negative nuance of 'rehash', but can be used in that sense when the remake is seen as unoriginal.
The remake of that game was just a rehash.
Express that a topic, argument, or discussion is being repeated without any new insight or resolution.
Literally 'to steam again', this verb means to bring up an old topic or argument again, often in a way that is annoying or unproductive. It is the best fit for rehashing discussions.
Don't rehash that topic again.
General verb meaning 'to repeat'. When used for discussions or ideas, it can imply rehashing, but it lacks the negative nuance unless context makes it clear.
焼き直し is the most general term for a rehash and can be used for any kind of content. 二番煎じ specifically emphasizes that the rehash is inferior to the original, like a weak second cup of tea. Use 二番煎じ when you want to stress the lack of originality and quality.
That novel is a rehash of a classic, but it's well-written.
That novel is a poor rehash of a classic and not worth reading.
There is no single Japanese verb that directly translates 'to rehash' in all contexts. Using 再ハッシュする or similar made-up words will not be understood. Choose the appropriate phrase based on whether you mean reusing content (焼き直し) or rehashing a discussion (蒸し返す).
The article was just a rehash of old news.
Let's not rehash the same argument.
Rehashing the same issue in the meeting is a waste of time.
He just kept rehashing the same argument.