roast · decoct

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 煎 has 13 strokes and denotes brewing or roasting ingredients.
• Basic usage: 煎じる is read せんじる, and 煎る is read いる.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Brewing and toasting
  • 薬草を鍋でゆっくり煎じた means slowly simmering herbs in a pot to make a brew.
  • ごまを弱火で煎った means toasting sesame seeds over low heat.
  • 煎った is read いった and is the past form of 煎る.