How to Say ‘To cook’ in Japanese
料理をする
ryouri o suru
[ryoh-ree oh soo-roo]
💬 Usage Tip: [料理をする] is “to do cooking.” In everyday speech, people often say [料理する] too.
🇯🇵 In Japan: Cooking is a popular “green flag” hobby in Japan. Mentioning it can create a cozy, reliable impression.
Phrase Breakdown
料理
ryouri
[ryoh-ree]
cooking; cuisine
Noun meaning “cooking/food.” With する, it can mean “to cook” (料理をする).
休日は料理をすることが多いです。
On my days off, I often cook.
を
o
[oh]
object marker (direct object)
Marks 料理 as the thing you “do” (cook). In natural English, it becomes “cook.”
料理をするのが好きです。
I like cooking.
する
suru
[soo-roo]
to do (here: to cook)
Basic verb “to do.” With 料理, it forms the action “to cook.”
たまに料理をする。
I cook sometimes.
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