Lesson 12: Foods & Cooking (料理)

Describing food impressions, giving and receiving food, discussing dishes

This lesson focuses on describing food based on appearance, expressing impressions after tasting, and discussing dishes. Students learn to comment on how food looks, give feedback after trying it, describe ingredients and flavors, and understand cooking instructions. Cultural elements include Japanese bento culture and various traditional dishes.

Key topics:

・Describing food impressions based on appearance
・Expressing thoughts after tasting food
・Offering and receiving food politely
・Describing ingredients and cooking methods
・Reading and following cooking instructions
・Japanese food culture (bento, tamago-yaki, okonomiyaki)

Vocabulary

とれる

toreru

取とれる

to pick

Example

みかんをとります.

Mikan o torimasu.

I pick oranges.

いれる

ireru

入いれる

to put in

Example

スープにきのこをいれます.

Sūpu ni kinoko o iremasu.

I put mushrooms in the soup.

とりだす

toridasu

取とり出だす

to take out

Example

ぎんなんを取とり出だします.

Ginnan o toridashimasu.

I take out gingko nuts.

そそぐ

sosogu

注そそぐ

to pour

Example

おゆをそそぎます.

Oyu o sosogimasu.

I pour hot water.

すてる

suteru

捨すてる

to discard

Example

ゆでじるをすてます.

Yudejiru o sutemasu.

I discard the boiling liquid.

かける

kakeru

to sprinkle

Example

ふりかけをかけます.

Furikake o kakemasu.

I sprinkle the topping.

まぜる

mazeru

混まぜる

to mix

Example

よくまぜます.

Yoku mazemasu.

I mix well.

はがす

hagasu

剥はがす

to remove

Example

フィルムをはがします.

Firumu o hagashimasu.

I remove the film.

あける

akeru

空あける

to empty into / onto

Example

かやくをあけます.

Kayaku o akemasu.

I empty the spices.

フタをする

futa o suru

蓋ふた(フタ)をする

to put the lid on

Example

ソースを入いれてから、蓋ふたをします.

Sōsu o irete kara, futa o shimasu.

After adding the sauce, put the lid on.

あまい

amai

甘あまい

sweet

Example

プリンはあまいです.

Purin wa amai desu.

Pudding is sweet.

からい

karai

辛からい

spicy / hot

Example

からしはからいです.

Karashi wa karai desu.

Mustard is spicy.

すっぱい

suppai

酸すっぱい

sour

Example

レモンはすっぱいです.

Remon wa suppai desu.

Lemons are sour.

しょっぱい

shoppai

salty

Example

しおはしょっぱいです.

Shio wa shoppai desu.

Salt is salty.

にがい

nigai

苦にがい

bitter

Example

このくすりはにがいです.

Kono kusuri wa nigai desu.

This medicine is bitter.

こい

koi

濃こい

strong (e.g., strong flavor)

Example

このおちゃは濃こいです.

Kono ocha wa koi desu.

This tea is strong.

うすい

usui

薄うすい

weak (e.g., weak flavor)

Example

このスープは薄うすいです.

Kono sūpu wa usui desu.

This soup is weak.

まずい

mazui

tastes bad

Example

このさかなはまずいです.

Kono sakana wa mazui desu.

This fish tastes bad.

みかん

mikan

orange

Example

みかんがすきです.

Mikan ga suki desu.

I like oranges.

きのこ

kinoko

mushroom

Example

きのこをきります.

Kinoko o kirimasu.

I cut mushrooms.

ぎんなん

ginnan

銀杏ぎんなん

gingko nuts

Example

銀杏ぎんなんがあります.

Ginnan ga arimasu.

There are gingko nuts.

おべんとう

obentō

お弁当べんとう

obento (lunch box)

Example

お弁当べんとうをつくります.

Obentō o tsukurimasu.

I make a lunch box.

たまごやき

tamagoyaki

卵たまご焼たまごやき

tamago-yaki (rolled omelet)

Example

卵焼たまごやきをつくります.

Tamagoyaki o tsukurimasu.

I make rolled omelet.

おこのみやき

okonomiyaki

お好このみ焼やき

okonomiyaki (Japanese-style pancake)

Example

お好このみ焼やきをたべます.

Okonomiyaki o tabemasu.

I eat okonomiyaki.

うめぼし

umeboshi

梅干うめぼし

umeboshi (pickled plum)

Example

梅干うめぼしがあります.

Umeboshi ga arimasu.

There are pickled plums.

すきやき

sukiyaki

すき焼やき

sukiyaki (Japanese beef hot pot)

Example

すき焼やきをつくります.

Sukiyaki o tsukurimasu.

I make sukiyaki.

なま

nama

生なま

raw

Example

生せいのやさいです.

Nama no yasai desu.

It's raw vegetables.

ちゃわんむし

chawanmushi

茶碗ちゃわん蒸ちゃわんむし

steamed egg custard

Example

茶碗ちゃわん蒸むしがすきです.

Chawanmushi ga suki desu.

I like steamed egg custard.

プリン

puri

pudding

Example

プリンをたべます.

Purin o tabemasu.

I eat pudding.

だし

dashi

dashi (Japanese soup stock)

Example

だしをつかいます.

Dashi o tsukaimasu.

I use dashi.

めん

men

麺めん

noodles

Example

麺めんをゆでます.

Men o yudemasu.

I boil noodles.

かやく

kayaku

かやく

spice

Example

かやくをいれます.

Kayaku o iremasu.

I put in spices.

ふりかけ

furikake

dried topping

Example

ふりかけをつかいます.

Furikake o tsukaimasu.

I use dried topping.

あじ

aji

味あじ

taste / flavor

Example

いい味あじです.

Ii aji desu.

It has a good taste.

ちょうりほうほう

chōri hōhō

調理ちょうり方法ちょうりほうほう

cooking instructions

Example

調理ちょうり方法ほうほうをよみます.

Chōri hōhō o yomimasu.

I read the cooking instructions.

いいにおい

ii nioi

いい匂におい

smells good

Example

いい匂においがします.

Ii nioi ga shimasu.

It smells good.

ねっとう

nettō

熱湯ねっとう

boiling water

Example

熱湯ねっとうにきをつけます.

Nettō ni ki o tsukemasu.

I am careful with boiling water.

おゆ

oyu

お湯ゆ

hot water

Example

お湯ゆをわかします.

Oyu o wakashimasu.

I boil hot water.

ゆきりぐち

yukiriguchi

湯ゆ切ゆきり口ぐち

drainage opening

Example

湯切ゆきり口くちがあります.

Yukiriguchi ga arimasu.

There is a drainage opening.

うちがわ

uchigawa

内側うちがわ

on the inside

Example

フタの内側うちがわです.

Futa no uchigawa desu.

It's the inside of the lid.

せん

sen

線せん

line

Example

この線せんまでです.

Kono sen made desu.

Up to this line.

できあがり

dekiagari

出来でき上できあがり

finished

Example

ラーメンできあがりです.

Rāmen dekiagari desu.

The ramen is finished.

もうひとつ

mō hitotsu

もう一ひとつ

another one

Example

もうひとついただきます.

mō hitotsu itadakimasu.

I'll have another one.

まあ

mā

well…

Example

まあ、いいですよ.

Mā, ii desu yo.

Well, it's okay.

どんどん

dondon

Example

どんどんたべてください.

Dondon tabete kudasai.

Please eat as much as you like.

Conversation

__ そうですね

sō desu ne

It looks __, doesn't it?

Example Usage

そのお弁当べんとう、おいしそうですね.

Sono obentō, oishisō desu ne.

That bento looks delicious.

よかったら、 __ てみてください

Yokattara, ___te mite kudasai

If you'd like, please try ___ing

Example Usage

よかったら、この卵焼たまごやき、食たべてみてください.

Yokattara, kono tamagoyaki, tabete mite kudasai.

If you'd like, please try this rolled omelet.

これは何ですか？

Kore wa nan desu ka?

What is this?

Example Usage

生なまのやさいです.

nama no yasai desu.

It's raw vegetables.

中に何が入ってますか？

Naka ni nani ga haitte masu ka?

What's inside?

Example Usage

このスープの中ちゅうに何なんが入はいってますか？

Kono sūpu no naka ni nani ga haitte masu ka?

What's inside this soup?

おなかがいっぱい

onaka ga ippai (na)

full

Example Usage

けっこうです、もうお腹なかがいっぱいです.

Kekkōdesu, mō Onaka ga ippai desu.

No thanks, I'm already full.

そんなことない

sonna koto nai

Actually, it isn't.

Example Usage

そんなことないですよ.

Sonna koto nai desu yo.

Actually, it isn't.

Kanji

卵たまご

egg

卵🎬

egg

Example

あさたまごをたべます.

Asa tamago o tabemasu.

I eat eggs in the morning.

味あじ

taste, flavor

味🎬

taste

Example

いい味あじです.

Ii aji desu.

It has a good taste.

少すこし

a little, a few

少🎬

few, little

Example

日本にっぽん語ごが少すこし話はなせます.

Nihongo ga sukoshi hanasemasu.

I can speak Japanese a little.

苦手にがて

poor at, not good at (na-adjective)

苦🎬

bitter, suffer

手🎬

hand

Example

かんじは苦手にがてです.

Kanji wa nigate desu.

I am poor at kanji.

料理りょうり

cooking, cuisine

料🎬

fee, charge

理🎬

reason, logic

Example

にほんりょうりがすきです.

Nihon ryōri ga suki desu.

I like Japanese food.

調理方法ちょうりほうほう

cooking method

調🎬

adjust, investigate

理🎬

reason, logic

方🎬

direction, method

法🎬

method, law

Example

調理ちょうり方法ほうほうをよみます.

Chōri hōhō o yomimasu.

I read the cooking instructions.

お湯ゆ

hot water

湯🎬

hot water

Example

お湯ゆをわかします.

Oyu o wakashimasu.

I boil hot water.

甘あまい

sweet

甘🎬

sweet

Example

プリンはあまいです.

Purin wa amai desu.

Pudding is sweet.

辛からい

spicy, hot

辛🎬

spicy, bitter

Example

からしはからいです.

Karashi wa karai desu.

Mustard is spicy.

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Describing how something looks or seems

Structure: ナA stem + そうです / イA(-い) + そうです

This expresses an intuitive judgment based on appearance. It is used to comment on the taste of food or drinks based on appearance, such as おいしそう (looks delicious) or からそう (looks spicy).

How to use: Remove い from イ-adjectives and な from ナ-adjectives, then add そうです. Examples: おいしい→おいしそうです, からい→からそうです, あまい→あまそうです, すっぱい→すっぱそうです. The question form is ～そうですか？. The negative is イA + くなさそうです or ナA + じゃなさそうです. In casual speech, ～そうだ is used.

💡 Pro Tip: This そうです is appearance-based; ～そうです after a plain form can also mean hearsay, so context matters. かわいそうです usually means "looks cute," but it can also mean "pitiful." Do not use this pattern for direct sensory evidence like 見みえます or 聞きこえます.

Adjective	Form
おいしい	おいしそうです
からい	からそうです
あまい	あまそうです
すっぱい	すっぱそうです

Examples

そのおべんとう、おいしそうですね.

Sono obentō, oishisō desu ne.

→ Your bento looks delicious.

このカレー、辛つらそうですね.

Kono karē, karasō desu ne.

→ This curry looks spicy.

Rule 2: Describing what something looks like as a noun

Structure: ナA stem + そうな + N / イA(-い) + そうな + N

～そうです can also modify nouns. In this case, it becomes ～そうなN. It describes an item based on its appearance.

How to use: Use ナA stem + そうな + N or イA(-い) + そうな + N. Examples: からそうです→からそうなりょうり, おいしそうです→おいしそうなケーキ. The question form is ～そうなNですか？. The negative is ～そうじゃないN or ～くなさそうなN. In casual speech, ～そうな is common.

💡 Pro Tip: Do not use そうです directly before a noun: say からそうなりょうり, not からそうですりょうり. The そうな form keeps the appearance meaning from the previous pattern. Register is neutral.

Examples

それ、辛つらそうな料理りょうりですね.

Sore, karasō na ryōri desu ne.

→ This looks like a spicy dish.

あの店みせには、おいしそうなパンがたくさんあります.

Ano mise ni wa, oishisō na pan ga takusan arimasu.

→ That shop has lots of delicious-looking bread.

Rule 3: Giving a reason with an イ-adjective

Structure: イA(-い) + くて、～

The preceding adjective describes the reason for the sentence that follows. It is used to give あまい as the reason why たまごやきがおいしい.

How to use: Change the final い of an イ-adjective to くて: あまい→あまくて, すっぱい→すっぱくて. The second clause gives the result or impression. The question form depends on the final clause. For negative reasons, use ～くなくて. For nouns and ナ-adjectives, use ～で.

💡 Pro Tip: くて can mean simple "and" or a reason depending on context. Do not use くて with nouns or ナ-adjectives; use で. Register is neutral.

Examples

この卵たまごやきき、甘あまくて、おいしいですね.

Kono tamagoyaki, amakute, oishii desu ne.

→ This tamago-yaki is sweet and tasty.

このスープは熱あつくて、飲のめません.

Kono sūpu wa atsukute, nomemasen.

→ This soup is too hot to drink.

Rule 4: Trying something to see what it is like

Structure: V-て + みます / V-て + みて下ください

V-てみます (V-てみる) is used when trying out something for the first time to find out what it is like. V-てみて下ください is used to recommend that someone try something.

How to use: Use V-て + みます. Conjugation: たべる→たべてみます, つくる→つくってみます. The question form is V-てみますか？ or casual V-てみる？. The negative is V-てみません. The request or recommendation is V-てみて下ください.

💡 Pro Tip: みる in this pattern means try, not see. Do not confuse V-てみます with V-てみたいです (want to try). いただきます is a natural reply when accepting food to try.

Examples

よかったら、この卵たまごやきき、食たべてみて下ください.

Yokattara, kono tamagoyaki, tabete mite kudasai.

→ If you'd like, please try some of this tamago-yaki.

新あたらしいカフェに行いってみます.

Atarashii kafe ni itte mimasu.

→ I will try going to a new cafe.

Rule 5: Giving a negative reason with an イ-adjective

Structure: イA(-い) + くなくて、～

When expressing the reason for the sentence that follows with the negative form of an イ-adjective, it becomes ～なくて. It is used to give あまくない as the reason why ちゃわんむしがおいしい.

How to use: Change イA + くない to イA + くなくて: あまい→あまくなくて, からい→からくなくて. The second clause gives the result or impression. For nouns and ナ-adjectives, use ～じゃなくて. The question form depends on the final clause.

💡 Pro Tip: Do not use ～くないで for this reason pattern; use ～くなくて. ～くなくて is the negative counterpart of ～くて. Register is neutral.

Examples

茶ちゃわんじょうし、甘あまくなくて、おいしいですよ.

Chawanmushi, amakunakute, oishii desu yo.

→ Chawan-mushi is delicious because it is not sweet.

このケーキは甘あまくなくて、食たべやすいです.

Kono kēki wa amakunakute, tabeyasui desu.

→ This cake is not sweet, so it is easy to eat.

Rule 6: Describing what is in a dish or put into it

Structure: N + が + 入いっっています / N + を + 入いれます

Verbs include intransitive verbs, which focus on events, and transitive verbs, which state that a person performs the action intentionally. 入いる (contain) is intransitive, while 入いれる (put in) is transitive. ～が入いっっています describes what kind of ingredients are in the dish. ～を入いれます describes what kind of ingredients are used to make the dish.

How to use: Use N + が + 入いっっています for contents. Use N + を + 入いれます for adding or putting in. Conjugation: 入いる→入いっっています, 入いれる→入いれます. The question form is 何なにが入いっっていますか？. The negative is 入いっっていません or 入いれません.

💡 Pro Tip: Use が with intransitive 入いる and を with transitive 入いれる. Do not say 牛肉ぎゅうにくが入いれます when describing contents; say 牛肉ぎゅうにくが入いっっています. 入いっってます is a common spoken contraction of 入いっっています.

Intransitive	Intransitivemeaning	Transitive	Transitivemeaning
入(い)る	to contain / be in	入(い)れる	to put in

Examples

にわとり肉にくとか、エビとか、きのことかが入いっってます.

Toriniku toka, ebi toka, kinoko toka ga haittemasu.

→ It contains chicken, shrimp, and mushroom.

このスープには野菜やさいが入いっっています.

Kono sūpu ni wa yasai ga haitte imasu.

→ This soup contains vegetables.

Rule 7: Checking whether something is not too much

Structure: イA(-い) + くないですか？

This expression checks and asks whether something that one is worried about is okay. It is used to ask about the taste, such as whether it is too plain or too spicy.

How to use: Change イA + くない to イA + くないですか？: うすい→うすくないですか, からい→からくないですか. It is a negative question used for checking. To answer, say だいじょうぶです or はい、ちょっと…. In casual speech, use ～くない？.

💡 Pro Tip: This is not a literal negative question; it checks the listener's condition or preference. わさび、からくないですか？ means「 Isn't the wasabi too spicy for you?」Do not confuse it with a simple ～ですか？ question.

Examples

味あじはうすくないですか？

Aji wa usukunai desu ka?

→ Isn't the taste too plain for you?

このスープ、熱あつくないですか？

Kono sūpu, atsukunai desu ka?

→ Isn't this soup too hot?

Key topics:

Vocabulary

Conversation

Kanji

Grammar Rules

Rule 1: Describing how something looks or seems

Rule 2: Describing what something looks like as a noun

Rule 3: Giving a reason with an イ-adjective

Rule 4: Trying something to see what it is like

Rule 5: Giving a negative reason with an イ-adjective

Rule 6: Describing what is in a dish or put into it

Rule 7: Checking whether something is not too much

Exercises

Question 1: 'That bento looks delicious.'

Question 2: Which is correct for 'This curry looks spicy.'

Question 3: 'This cake looks sweet.'

Question 4: Which is correct for 'This lemon looks sour.'

Question 5: 'That looks like a spicy dish.'

Question 6: Which is correct for 'That shop has lots of delicious-looking bread.'

Question 7: 'This rolled omelet is sweet and delicious.'

Question 8: Which is correct for 'This soup is hot, so I can't drink it.'

Question 9: 'If you'd like, please try this rolled omelet.'

Question 10: Which is correct for 'I will try going to a new cafe.'

Question 11: 'I tried going to a new restaurant. It was very good.'

Question 12: Which is correct for 'I will try making okonomiyaki.'

Question 13: 'Chawan-mushi is delicious because it is not sweet.'

Question 14: Which is correct for 'This cake is not sweet, so it is easy to eat.'

Question 15: 'This dish contains chicken, shrimp, and mushrooms.'

Question 16: Which is correct for 'This soup contains vegetables.'

Question 17: 'Sometimes I also put in gingko nuts.'

Question 18: Which is correct for 'Isn't the taste too bland (for you)?'

Question 19: 'Isn't this soup too hot (for you)?'

Question 20: Choose the correct reading of 卵.

Question 21: Choose the correct reading of 味.

Question 22: Choose the correct reading of 少し.

Question 23: Choose the correct reading of 苦手.

Question 24: Choose the correct reading of 料理.

Question 25: Choose the correct reading of お湯.

Question 26: Choose the correct reading of 甘い.

Question 27: Choose the correct reading of 辛い.

Question 28: Choose the correct reading of 調理方法.

Question 29: Which is correct for 'This rolled omelet looks sweet and delicious.'

Question 30: Which is correct for 'Please try this soup. It contains vegetables.'