Translation guide
The English verb 'cook' covers a wide range of food preparation methods. In Japanese, the most common equivalent is 料理する (ryouri suru), but many specific cooking verbs exist depending on the method. This guide helps learners choose the right word for the context.
私は毎日料理します。
I cook every day.
魚を焼いてください。
Please cook the fish.
To prepare a meal or dish, without specifying the method.
The most general and common way to say 'cook'. It covers all kinds of cooking.
私は毎日料理します。
I cook every day.
He is good at cooking.
Literally 'make', often used for preparing food, especially in casual contexts.
今夜はカレーを作るよ。
I'll make curry tonight.
Refers to cooking as a household chore. More formal and less common in daily conversation.
母は毎日炊事をしている。
My mother does the cooking every day.
To cook using a particular technique like boiling, frying, grilling, etc.
To cook with direct or indirect heat: grill, bake, roast, fry (on a griddle). Covers many English methods.
魚を焼いてください。
Please cook (grill) the fish.
パンを焼いた。
I baked bread.
To simmer or boil in liquid. Used for stews, soups, and boiled dishes.
肉を煮て柔らかくする。
Cook the meat until tender by simmering.
To stir-fry or sauté in a pan with oil.
To deep-fry.
とんかつを揚げる。
Deep-fry pork cutlets.
To steam.
野菜を蒸すと栄養が逃げない。
Steaming vegetables preserves nutrients.
Specifically to cook rice, which has its own verb in Japanese.
The standard verb for cooking rice. Not used for other foods.
ご飯を炊くのを忘れた。
I forgot to cook the rice.
To heat or cook food using a microwave oven.
Literally 'warm up in a microwave'. The most natural way to say 'microwave' as a cooking action.
残り物を電子レンジで温めてください。
Please microwave the leftovers.
Casual slang for microwaving, from 'range' + 'chin' (onomatopoeia for the microwave bell).
これ、レンチンして食べよう。
Let's microwave this and eat it.
To describe food being cooked or done.
Intransitive of 焼く: to be grilled, baked, roasted, etc.
パンが焼けた。
The bread is baked.
Intransitive of 煮る: to be boiled/simmered.
肉が煮えた。
The meat is cooked (by simmering).
Intransitive of 炊く: rice is cooked.
ご飯が炊けた。
The rice is cooked.
To work as a cook or chef.
Literally 'work as a cook'. Clear and natural.
彼はフランスで料理人として働いている。
He works as a cook in France.
Loanword for 'chef', often used for professional cooks, especially in Western cuisine.
彼は有名なシェフです。
He is a famous chef.
While 料理する is the general verb, it sounds unnatural when a specific cooking method is obvious. For example, 'cook rice' should be ご飯を炊く, not ご飯を料理する.
ご飯を炊く
cook rice
Many cooking verbs have transitive/intransitive pairs. Use transitive when someone does the action (を), and intransitive when the food becomes cooked (が).
魚を焼く (transitive)
grill fish
魚が焼ける (intransitive)
the fish is grilled
今夜は私が夕食を作ります。
I'll cook dinner tonight.
彼女は肉を完璧に焼いた。
She cooked the meat perfectly.
野菜を炒めてください。
Please stir-fry the vegetables.