蒸かす

• Reading: ふかす
• Romaji: fukasu
• Kanji breakdown: 蒸 (jō/fu) — steam, evaporate
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯ.ka.sɯ/

Meaning

To steam (food). The act of cooking food using steam.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the す row. Primarily used for steaming food, especially sweet potatoes (芋を蒸かす) and buns. More colloquial than 蒸す, which is the standard word for steaming. Can also appear in the causative sense of making something steamy. Relatively uncommon in written Japanese but used in everyday cooking talk.

Examples

1. 秋になるとさつまいもを蒸かして食べる。 When fall comes, I steam sweet potatoes and eat them.
2. 祖母は毎朝蒸かしたまんじゅうを作ってくれた。 My grandmother used to make steamed manjū every morning.
3. もち米を蒸かしておこわを作ろう。 Let's steam some glutinous rice and make okowa.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, food preparation, daily life

Tone: homey

Origin & History

The kanji 蒸 combines 艹 (grass radical), 丞 (to help), and 灬 (fire dots at bottom). Plants over fire producing steam — the fundamental image of steaming.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal