burn · bake

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 焼 has 12 strokes and denotes cooking or burning with fire or heat.
• Basic usage: 焼く is read やく, and 焼ける is read やける.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Grilling something and something baking
  • 魚を焼く means grilling fish.
  • パンが焼ける means that bread bakes.
• Something burning
  • 木の板の端が黒く焼けました means that the edge of a wooden board burned black.