Translation guide
The room where food is prepared. Japanese has several words for 'kitchen', differing by context, formality, and type.
The most common, everyday word for a kitchen in a house or apartment.
The standard word for a home kitchen. Used in daily conversation.
台所で料理を作る。
I cook in the kitchen.
台所が広い家に住みたい。
I want to live in a house with a spacious kitchen.
Loanword from English. Common in modern contexts, real estate ads, and when referring to a stylish or system kitchen.
新しいキッチンは使いやすい。
The new kitchen is easy to use.
When referring to the kitchen as a room in a building plan or in formal writing.
Formal or technical term for a kitchen, often used for commercial kitchens or in architectural contexts. Not used in casual conversation.
この建物の厨房は地下にある。
The kitchen of this building is in the basement.
Specifically the kitchen in a restaurant, hotel, or other food service establishment.
Refers to the cooking area in a commercial setting. Emphasizes the place where cooking is done.
レストランの調理場はいつも忙しい。
The restaurant kitchen is always busy.
Also used for commercial kitchens, especially in formal or written contexts.
A very small kitchen, often in a studio apartment, with minimal facilities.
Loanword for a compact kitchen unit, common in real estate listings.
この部屋にはミニキッチンが付いています。
This room comes with a kitchenette.
台所 is the traditional Japanese word and feels more homely. キッチン is modern and often used in advertisements or when talking about a stylish, Western-style kitchen. In everyday speech, both are used, but 台所 is slightly more common in older generations.
厨房 is very formal and can sound stiff or technical. Using it to refer to your home kitchen would be unnatural. Stick to 台所 or キッチン.
厨房スタッフを募集しています。
We are hiring kitchen staff.