How do you say "I cook." in Japanese?

"I cook." in Japanese is "りょうりをします。". This phrase is commonly used in Japan.

🙋‍♀️👩‍🍳

How to Say ‘I cook.’ in Japanese

Q: What does "りょうりをします。" mean in English?

"りょうりをします。" means "I cook." in English. Usage tip: Natural hobby sentence. If you mean professionally, you might say [りょうりをしています] or specify your job.

りょうりをします。

💬 Usage Tip: Natural hobby sentence. If you mean professionally, you might say [りょうりをしています] or specify your job.

🇯🇵 In Japan: If you say you cook, a typical follow-up is [なにをつくりますか。] “What do you make?”

Phrase Breakdown

りょうりりょうり

cooking / cuisine

Noun meaning “cooking.” With をします it means “to cook / do cooking.”

Example

りょうりがすきです。

I like cooking.

をを

object marker

Marks りょうり as the thing you do (do cooking).

Example

りょうりをします。

I cook.

しますします

do (polite)

Polite verb “do.” Used with many activity nouns.

Example

スポーツをします。

I play sports.

Word-by-Word Breakdown

りょうりりょうり

[ryouri]

cooking; cuisine

Means “cooking.” With をします, it refers to the activity: “I cook.”

Example

しゅうまつにりょうりをします。

I cook on weekends.

をを

[o]

(object marker)

Marks りょうり as the direct object of します.

Example

りょうりをします。

I cook.

しし

[shi]

do (stem of します)

Stem of します. Together with ます: します = “do” (polite).

Example

りょうりをします。

I cook.

ますます

[masu]

(polite verb ending)

Polite ending; standard for speaking politely.

Example

りょうりをします。

I cook.

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