N4 · 40 words

Cooking

The kitchen, what is in it, and what happens to food before it reaches the table.

Japanese has a separate verb for each way of applying heat, where English often makes do with "cook": 焼(や)く is to grill, roast or bake, 煮(に)る to simmer in a liquid, 茹(ゆ)でる to boil in water, 炒(いた)める to stir-fry and 揚(あ)げる to deep-fry. Rice has a verb of its own, 炊(た)く. Recipes measure in 大(おお)さじ and 小(こ)さじ, the tablespoon and the teaspoon.

The words

Verb (17)

焼くto grill; to bake; to roastVerbN4

魚(さかな)を焼(や)いて、夕食(ゆうしょく)にしました。I grilled some fish for dinner.

煮るto simmer; to stewVerbN4

野菜(やさい)を30分(ぷん)煮(に)ます。Simmer the vegetables for thirty minutes.

切るto cutVerbN5

玉(たま)ねぎを細(こま)かく切(き)ってください。Please chop the onion finely.

混ぜるto mix; to stirVerbN4

卵(たまご)と砂糖(さとう)をよく混(ま)ぜます。Mix the eggs and sugar well.

炒めるto stir-fry; to fryVerbN4

肉(にく)と野菜(やさい)を強(つよ)い火(ひ)で炒(いた)めます。Stir-fry the meat and vegetables over a high heat.

揚げるto deep-fryVerbN4

鶏肉(とりにく)を油(あぶら)で揚(あ)げました。I deep-fried some chicken.

Sounds like あげる, "to give", but is a different word.

茹でるto boil (in water)VerbN4

パスタを八分(はっぷん)茹(ゆ)でます。Boil the pasta for eight minutes.

Often written in kana: ゆでる.

沸かすto boil (water); to heat (a bath)VerbN4

お湯(ゆ)を沸(わ)かして、お茶(ちゃ)を入(い)れました。I boiled some water and made tea.

温めるto warm up; to heat upVerbN4

冷(つめ)たいご飯(はん)を電子(でんし)レンジで温(あたた)めます。I heat up cold rice in the microwave.

冷やすto chill; to coolVerbN4

ビールを冷蔵庫(れいぞうこ)で冷(ひ)やしておきます。I'll put the beer in the fridge to chill.

冷めるto cool down; to get coldVerbN3

早(はや)く食(た)べないと、スープが冷(さ)めてしまいますよ。Eat up, or the soup will get cold.

Of something hot losing its heat; 冷(ひ)やす is chilling on purpose.

むくto peelVerbN3

りんごの皮(かわ)をむいてください。Please peel the apple.

炊くto cook (rice)VerbN4

毎晩(まいばん)ご飯(はん)を炊(た)きます。I cook rice every evening.

Used for rice; other food is 煮(に)る, 焼(や)く and so on.

蒸すto steamVerbN3

じゃがいもを蒸(む)して、塩(しお)をかけました。I steamed some potatoes and sprinkled salt on them.

刻むto chop finely; to minceVerbN3

ねぎを細(こま)かく刻(きざ)んでください。Please chop the spring onion finely.

焦げるto burn; to get scorched (of food)VerbN3

火(ひ)が強(つよ)すぎて、魚(さかな)が焦(こ)げてしまいました。The heat was too high and the fish got burnt.

量るto weigh; to measure (an amount)VerbN3

砂糖(さとう)を100グラム量(はか)ります。Weigh out a hundred grams of sugar.

For weight and volume; length and time are written 測(はか)る and 計(はか)る.

This list belongs to Food and drink — six lists and 242 words that can also be practised as a whole.

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