焚き付ける

• Reading: たきつける
• Romaji: takitsukeru
• Kanji breakdown: 焚 (fun/taki) — to burn, kindle | 付 (fu/tsu) — to attach, to set
• Pronunciation: /ta.ki.tsɯ.ke.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To incite; to stir up; to instigate; to kindle a fire or strong emotion in someone.

A Group 2 (ichidan) compound verb from 焚く (to kindle, to burn) and 付ける (to attach, to set). Literally it means to kindle a fire by lighting kindling; figuratively it means to stir up passions, provoke action, or instigate someone into doing something, often something rash. The figurative sense is predominant at N1 level and carries a manipulative or inflammatory connotation.

Examples

1. 過激な言論が市民の怒りを焚き付け、デモは暴動へと発展してしまった。 Inflammatory rhetoric stirred up the anger of citizens, and the demonstration escalated into a riot.
2. 競合他社は不満を抱える社員を焚き付けて内部情報を引き出そうとした。 A rival company tried to incite disgruntled employees into leaking internal information.
3. 彼女は弟を焚き付けて親に値上げを交渉させ、自分は高みの見物をしていた。 She instigated her younger brother into negotiating a raise with their parents, while she watched from the sidelines.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, social conflict, manipulation, interpersonal dynamics

Tone: negative

Origin & History

Compound of 焚く (to kindle, burn) and 付ける (to attach, set). The metaphor of setting fire to kindling extends naturally to inflaming emotions or provoking action in others.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo–Present

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal