Hello, I’m Kodak.
Imagine that your partner is laughing with someone else. You know it may be harmless, but you still feel uncomfortable and want their attention back.
やきもちを焼く (yakimochi o yaku)
“to get jealous”
やきもち (yakimochi) means jealousy or jealous feelings.
It is especially common when someone feels that another person is receiving the love, affection, attention, or closeness that they want.
The usual expression is:
やきもちを焼く
to get jealous / be jealous
This article explains the meaning, pronunciation, writing, origin, grammar, natural examples, anime usage, and differences between やきもち, 嫉妬, 羨ましい, 妬む, and ずるい.
What Does やきもち (Yakimochi) Mean?
Kanji: 焼き餅 / 焼餅
Hiragana: やきもち
Romaji: yakimochi
Part of speech: noun
Emotional meaning:
jealousy; jealous feelings; possessive envy
Literal food meaning:
grilled or toasted mochi
彼は彼女の男友達にやきもちを焼いている。
Kare wa kanojo no otoko-tomodachi ni yakimochi o yaite iru.
He is jealous of his girlfriend’s male friend.
そんなにやきもちを焼かないで。
Sonna ni yakimochi o yakanaide.
Don’t be so jealous.
A child may feel jealous when a new baby gets attention. A pet may become jealous when its owner pets another animal.
恋人がほかの人と話していて、やきもちを焼いた。
I got jealous when my partner was talking to someone else.
Family:
兄は生まれたばかりの弟にやきもちを焼いた。
The older brother was jealous of his newborn younger brother.
Pets:
犬が猫にやきもちを焼いている。
The dog is jealous of the cat.
The Core Image of やきもち
The core feeling is not simply “That person has something nice.” It is more often:
↓
You feel that your place may be threatened
↓
You want that attention or affection for yourself
↓
やきもち
If your friend has a great job and you wish you had one too, 羨ましい is natural.
If your partner gives another person special attention and you feel possessive, やきもち is natural.
How to Pronounce やきもち
Romaji: yakimochi
Mora: や・き・も・ち (4 morae)
Pronounce it in four relatively even beats:
How to Write Yakimochi in Kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana
Compact kanji spelling: 焼餅
Hiragana: やきもち
Katakana: ヤキモチ
Romaji: yakimochi
When the word means jealousy, やきもち in hiragana is very common. Writing 焼き餅 highlights the wordplay with grilled mochi, while ヤキモチ may be used for visual emphasis.
焼き餅を食べる means “eat grilled mochi.”
やきもちを焼く means “get jealous.”
I ate two pieces of grilled mochi.
恋人にやきもちを焼かれた。
My partner got jealous of me.
Why Does Yakimochi Mean Jealousy?
The expression is a Japanese wordplay.
Before やきもち came to mean jealousy, the verb 焼く—also written 妬く in this sense—was already used to mean “to feel jealous.”
to feel jealous
＋
餅
mochi
↓
焼き餅
literally “grilled mochi,” but also “jealousy”
Dictionaries explain that 餅 was added to the jealousy-related use of 焼く, creating the playful noun 焼き餅.
The key is that 焼く itself already had a jealousy meaning.
How Old Is the Jealousy Meaning?
The food word 焼き餅 is recorded in medieval sources. The jealousy meaning is documented in an eighteenth-century example from 1760.
焼き餅 = mochi cooked over heat
Later wordplay:
焼く = feel jealous
＋ 餅
↓
焼き餅 = jealousy
How to Use やきもち
1. やきもちを焼く: To Get Jealous
This is the standard expression to memorize.
natural meaning: to get jealous / be jealous
彼女がほかの男性と話していたので、やきもちを焼いた。
Kanojo ga hoka no dansei to hanashite ita node, yakimochi o yaita.
I got jealous because my girlfriend was talking to another man.
弟ばかり褒められて、姉はやきもちを焼いた。
Otōto bakari homerarete, ane wa yakimochi o yaita.
The older sister became jealous because only her younger brother was praised.
2. Person + に + やきもちを焼く
The particle に can mark the person who becomes the target of the jealousy.
彼は私の幼なじみにやきもちを焼いている。
Kare wa watashi no osananajimi ni yakimochi o yaite iru.
He is jealous of my childhood friend.
犬が赤ちゃんにやきもちを焼いている。
Inu ga akachan ni yakimochi o yaite iru.
The dog is jealous of the baby.
The target marked by に is often the perceived rival.
3. ～ので / ～から、やきもちを焼く
恋人が元恋人の話ばかりするから、やきもちを焼いてしまう。
Koibito ga moto-koibito no hanashi bakari suru kara, yakimochi o yaite shimau.
I get jealous because my partner keeps talking about their ex.
4. やきもちを焼かないで: Don’t Be Jealous
ただの友達だから、やきもちを焼かないで。
Tada no tomodachi dakara, yakimochi o yakanaide.
We’re just friends, so don’t be jealous.
5. やきもちを焼かれる: Someone Gets Jealous of You
異性の友達が多いので、恋人によくやきもちを焼かれる。
Isei no tomodachi ga ōi node, koibito ni yoku yakimochi o yakareru.
My partner often gets jealous because I have many friends of the opposite sex.
6. やきもちを焼いている: To Be Feeling Jealous
彼は少しやきもちを焼いているみたい。
Kare wa sukoshi yakimochi o yaite iru mitai.
It looks like he is a little jealous.
7. やきもちを焼かせる: To Make Someone Jealous
彼にやきもちを焼かせようとした。
Kare ni yakimochi o yakaseyō to shita.
I tried to make him jealous.
Useful Forms of やきもちを焼く
to get jealous
Polite form: やきもちを焼きます
get jealous
Past: やきもちを焼いた
got jealous
Negative: やきもちを焼かない
do not get jealous
Te-form: やきもちを焼いて
being jealous; get jealous and…
Progressive: やきもちを焼いている
is feeling jealous
Passive: やきもちを焼かれる
have someone become jealous of you
Causative: やきもちを焼かせる
make someone jealous
Its past form follows the same pattern as 書く → 書いた:
焼く → 焼いた.
What Is a やきもち焼き?
やきもち焼き (yakimochi-yaki) describes a person who becomes jealous easily.
a jealous person; someone prone to jealousy
やきもち深い
very jealous; possessive
嫉妬深い
jealous by nature; deeply jealous
彼はかなりのやきもち焼きだ。
Kare wa kanari no yakimochi-yaki da.
He is a very jealous person.
私はやきもち焼きだから、少し心配になる。
Watashi wa yakimochi-yaki dakara, sukoshi shinpai ni naru.
I’m the jealous type, so I get a little worried.
Calling yourself a やきもち焼き often sounds softer than calling someone else 嫉妬深い.
やきもち vs 嫉妬: What Is the Difference?
Everyday, conversational jealousy
Often connected with affection, attention, romance, family, or closeness
Can sound soft, childish, teasing, or even cute
嫉妬 (shitto)
The general and more formal word “jealousy” or “envy”
Can describe romantic jealousy or resentment of another person’s success
Often sounds more serious, analytical, or negative
I got jealous when I saw my partner talking to someone of the opposite sex.
⇒ Natural everyday romantic jealousy.
同僚の昇進に嫉妬している。
He/She is jealous of a coworker’s promotion.
⇒ Resentment toward another person’s success.
やきもちを焼かないで sounds conversational.
嫉妬しないで sounds more direct, serious, or clinical.
やきもち vs 羨ましい: Jealousy or Envy?
Someone has something good, and you wish you had it too.
やきもち
Someone else receives affection or attention that you want, or you fear losing your special place.
I’m jealous that my friend lives abroad.
⇒ I want the same experience.
恋人がその友達と仲良くしていて、やきもちを焼いた。
I got jealous because my partner was close with that friend.
⇒ I feel threatened or want my partner’s attention.
“I want what that person has.” ⇒ 羨ましい
“I want that person’s attention or affection for myself.” ⇒ やきもち
Learn more: What Does 羨ましい (Urayamashii) Mean?
やきもち vs 妬む: Which Is More Negative?
To feel jealous, often in relationships or over attention
May be light, temporary, or openly admitted
妬む (netamu)
To resent or begrudge someone because of their happiness, ability, success, or advantage
Usually more negative
彼がほかの人を褒めたので、少しやきもちを焼いた。
Kare ga hoka no hito o hometa node, sukoshi yakimochi o yaita.
I felt a little jealous because he praised someone else.
彼女の成功を妬んでいる。
Kanojo no seikō o netande iru.
He/She resents her success.
やきもち vs ずるい
Jealousy over affection, attention, or one’s special position
ずるい
Unfair, sneaky, or a playful “No fair—you’re so lucky!”
I got jealous because the two of them were happily talking alone.
二人だけで旅行に行くの？ずるい！
You two are going on a trip by yourselves? No fair!
Learn more: What Does ずるい (Zurui) Mean?
やきもち vs 悔しい
You feel threatened by another person receiving affection or attention.
悔しい (kuyashii)
You feel painfully frustrated because you lost, failed, or could not achieve the result you wanted.
恋人がほかの人を褒めて、やきもちを焼いた。
I got jealous when my partner praised someone else.
告白できないまま卒業して、悔しかった。
I was frustrated that I graduated without confessing my feelings.
Learn more: What Does 悔しい (Kuyashii) Mean?
Is やきもち Cute, Childish, or Serious?
The word often sounds softer than 嫉妬, but its exact tone depends on the situation.
やきもち焼いてるの？かわいい。
Are you jealous? That’s cute.
Childish:
弟ばかりずるい！と、姉はやきもちを焼いた。
The older sister became jealous, saying, “It’s always him!”
Serious:
彼の強いやきもちに疲れてしまった。
I became tired of his intense jealousy.
Polite Ways to Talk About Jealousy
やきもち itself is conversational. In a formal or serious discussion, speakers may choose more neutral wording.
I became a little jealous.
少し嫉妬してしまいました。
I felt a little jealous.
寂しく感じました。
I felt lonely.
自分だけ取り残されたように感じました。
I felt as though I had been left out.
Naming that feeling can make the conversation less accusatory.
How やきもち Is Used in Anime and Manga
In anime and manga, やきもち often appears in romantic misunderstandings, love triangles, sibling rivalry, and comedy scenes.
Are you jealous?
べ、別にやきもちなんか焼いてない！
I-I’m not jealous or anything!
ほかの女の子と話していたから、少しやきもちを焼いた。
I got a little jealous because you were talking to another girl.
俺にやきもち焼かせたいのか？
Are you trying to make me jealous?
やきもち焼きだな。
You’re the jealous type, aren’t you?
In fiction, the strong denial often suggests that the character actually is jealous.
Jealousy Without Saying やきもち
Anime characters may express the same feeling indirectly.
Who is that person?
ずいぶん仲がいいんだね。
You two seem very close.
私より、その人のほうが大事なの？
Is that person more important than me?
別に気にしてない。
It’s not like I care.
私のことも見てよ。
Pay attention to me too.
For real relationships, calm and specific language is usually better.
Natural English Translations of やきもち
jealousy / jealous feelings
やきもちを焼く
to get jealous / feel jealous / be jealous
やきもち焼き
a jealous person / the jealous type
やきもちを焼かせる
to make someone jealous
やきもちを焼かれる
to have someone become jealous of you
やきもち深い
very jealous / possessive
For simple envy of another person’s possessions or success, 羨ましい is often more natural in Japanese.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Mistake 1: Translating やきもち as “Grilled Mochi” in Every Context
焼き餅を食べる。
Eat grilled mochi.
Emotion:
やきもちを焼く。
Get jealous.
Mistake 2: Saying Only やきもち When You Need a Verb
やきもち is a noun. To say that someone becomes jealous, use やきもちを焼く.
Possible only in a shortened or contextual statement.
○ 彼はやきもちを焼いている。
He is jealous.
○ 彼はやきもち焼きだ。
He is the jealous type.
Mistake 3: Using やきもち for Every Kind of Envy
友達の才能が羨ましい。
I envy my friend’s talent.
Natural jealousy:
恋人が友達ばかり褒めるので、やきもちを焼いた。
I got jealous because my partner kept praising my friend.
Mistake 4: Confusing Who Is Jealous of Whom
He is jealous of his younger brother.
弟は彼にやきもちを焼いている。
His younger brother is jealous of him.
The topic before は is usually the jealous person, while the person marked with に is the target or rival.
Mistake 5: Assuming a Soft Word Means Harmless Behavior
やきもち may sound softer than 嫉妬, but excessive suspicion, monitoring, or control is still serious behavior.
Mistake 6: Writing やきもちを妬く
The conventional expression is normally written やきもちを焼く. The jealousy sense of the verb may independently be written 妬く, but the fixed phrase uses the visual pun 焼き餅を焼く.
Native speakers understand the entire phrase as the idiom “to get jealous.”
Natural Example Sentences with やきもち
彼女が元恋人の話をしたので、少しやきもちを焼いた。
Kanojo ga moto-koibito no hanashi o shita node, sukoshi yakimochi o yaita.
I got a little jealous because my girlfriend talked about her ex.
ほかの人を褒めただけで、そんなにやきもちを焼かないで。
Hoka no hito o hometa dake de, sonna ni yakimochi o yakanaide.
Don’t get so jealous just because I praised someone else.
弟は母が赤ちゃんを抱くたびにやきもちを焼いた。
Otōto wa haha ga akachan o daku tabi ni yakimochi o yaita.
My younger brother became jealous whenever our mother held the baby.
うちの猫は、私が犬をなでるとやきもちを焼く。
Uchi no neko wa, watashi ga inu o naderu to yakimochi o yaku.
My cat gets jealous when I pet the dog.
やきもちを焼いているなら、正直に言って。
Yakimochi o yaite iru nara, shōjiki ni itte.
If you’re jealous, tell me honestly.
彼はやきもち焼きだけど、束縛はしない。
Kare wa yakimochi-yaki da kedo, sokubaku wa shinai.
He is the jealous type, but he does not try to control me.
わざと彼女にやきもちを焼かせるのはよくない。
Wazato kanojo ni yakimochi o yakaseru no wa yokunai.
It is not good to make your girlfriend jealous on purpose.
友達と出かけただけなのに、恋人にやきもちを焼かれた。
Tomodachi to dekaketa dake nanoni, koibito ni yakimochi o yakareta.
My partner became jealous even though I only went out with a friend.
あなたが妹ばかりかわいがるから、兄がやきもちを焼いているよ。
Anata ga imōto bakari kawaigaru kara, ani ga yakimochi o yaite iru yo.
The older brother is jealous because you give all your affection to his younger sister.
やきもちではなく、ただ寂しかっただけ。
Yakimochi de wa naku, tada sabishikatta dake.
It wasn’t jealousy; I was just lonely.
彼がほかの女性と楽しそうに話しているのを見て、胸がもやもやした。たぶん、やきもちだ。
Kare ga hoka no josei to tanoshisō ni hanashite iru no o mite, mune ga moyamoya shita. Tabun, yakimochi da.
Seeing him happily talking with another woman made me feel uneasy. It was probably jealousy.
少しくらいのやきもちなら、愛情の表れだと思う人もいる。
Sukoshi kurai no yakimochi nara, aijō no araware da to omou hito mo iru.
Some people see a small amount of jealousy as a sign of affection.
FAQ About やきもち
What does yakimochi mean in English?
やきもち means jealousy or jealous feelings. It is especially common for romantic, family, or attention-related jealousy.
What does yakimochi o yaku mean?
やきもちを焼く means “to get jealous” or “to be jealous.” It is the standard expression learners should memorize.
Does yakimochi literally mean grilled mochi?
Yes. 焼き餅 literally means grilled mochi, but through wordplay it also came to mean jealousy. Context shows which meaning is intended.
Why does yakimochi mean jealousy?
The verb 焼く, also written 妬く in this sense, already meant “to feel jealous.” The word 餅 was added to it, creating the pun 焼き餅.
How do you write yakimochi in Japanese?
It can be written やきもち, 焼き餅, 焼餅, or, for emphasis, ヤキモチ.
Is yakimochi only romantic jealousy?
No. It can describe jealousy between siblings, children competing for a parent’s attention, or pets reacting to another animal receiving affection.
What is the difference between yakimochi and shitto?
やきもち is conversational and often connected with affection or attention. 嫉妬 is broader, more formal, and can also describe resentment of another person’s success.
What is the difference between yakimochi and urayamashii?
羨ましい means wishing that you had something another person has. やきもち commonly means feeling threatened because another person receives affection or attention that you want.
What does yakimochi-yaki mean?
やきもち焼き means a jealous person or someone who becomes jealous easily.
Is yakimochi cute or negative?
It can sound cute, teasing, childish, or serious depending on context. The word is softer than 嫉妬, but controlling behavior caused by jealousy is still negative.
Related Expressions
A guide to 羨ましい, 悔しい, ずるい, やきもち, 嫉妬, and related emotions.
What Does 羨ましい (Urayamashii) Mean?
The feeling that someone has something desirable and you wish you had it too.
What Does 悔しい (Kuyashii) Mean?
Painful frustration after losing, failing, or being unable to achieve the result you wanted.
What Does ずるい (Zurui) Mean?
“Unfair,” “sneaky,” or a playful “No fair—you’re so lucky!”
Summary: The Meaning and Usage of やきもち
やきもち means jealousy or jealous feelings, especially over affection, attention, or closeness.
● Standard expression
やきもちを焼く = to get jealous / be jealous
● Core image
Someone else receives attention or affection that you want, and you feel your special place is threatened.
● Writing
Hiragana: やきもち
Kanji: 焼き餅 / 焼餅
Katakana: ヤキモチ
Romaji: yakimochi
● Origin
焼く / 妬く already meant “to feel jealous,” and 餅 was added to create the wordplay 焼き餅.
● Important distinctions
羨ましい = I wish I had what that person has
やきもち = I want that person’s attention or affection
嫉妬 = broader and more formal jealousy or envy
妬む = resent another person’s success or advantage
● Easy beginner example
そんなにやきもちを焼かないで。
Don’t be so jealous.
“I want your attention too.”
Then remember the playful phrase:
やきもちを焼く — “to get jealous.”
References
- Kotobank: 焼餠 — food meaning, jealousy meaning, word formation, and historical examples.
- Kotobank: 焼く — the verb’s jealousy meaning and historical usage.
- Goo Dictionary: 焼き餅を焼く — definition of the idiom.
- Goo Dictionary: 嫉妬 — envy of another person’s superiority and romantic jealousy.
- Kotobank: 焼餠焼 — meaning of やきもち焼き.