This article is part of our series on how to live in a Japanese apartment. In this chapter we present a basic English-Japanese glossary of useful words having to do with the kitchen, cooking, and cleaning up.
Room Basics
First, let’s learn the basics of any room. The word for room is heya (へや、部屋). See the charts below for how to say floor, ceiling, wall, window, and door.
Room Basics | ||||
English | Romaji | Hiragana or Katakana | Kanji If Applicable | Notes |
Floor | Yuka | フロア or ゆか | 床 | |
Ceiling | Tenjō | てんじょう | 天井 | |
Wall | Kabe | カベ | 壁 | |
Window | Mado | マド | 窓 | |
Door | Doa | ドア |
Essential Nouns
Next, let’s go over some useful nouns for the kitchen and cooking, starting with two ways to say “kitchen”. Please see the charts below.
Useful nouns for the kitchen and cooking: Chart 1
|
Notes | |||
Kitchen | Kichen or Daikokoro | キッチン or ダイドコロ | 台所 | |
Dining table | Shoku taku | しょくたく | 食卓 | |
Cabinet | Kyabinetto | キャビネット | ||
Sink | Shinku | シンク | ||
Counter | Kauntā | カウンター | ||
Stove (Range) | Sutōbu or konro | ストーブ or コンロ | ||
Fridge | Reizōko | れいぞうこ | 冷蔵庫 | |
Microwave oven | Denshi Renji | デンシレンジ | 電子レンジ | |
Toaster | Tōsutā | トースター | ||
Rice cooker | Suihanki | すいはんき | 炊飯器 | |
Pot | Nabe | なべ | 鍋 | |
Frying pan | Furai pan | フライパン |
Useful nouns for the kitchen and cooking: Chart 2
|
Notes | |||
Dishes | Shokki | しょっき | 食器 | |
Glass | Gurasu | グラス | ||
Cup | Kappu | カップ | ||
Bowl | Bōru | ボウル | ||
Plate | Purēto | プレート | ||
Chopsticks | Hashi | ハシ | 箸 | More commonly Ohashi (honorific form) |
Fork | Fōku | フォーク | ||
Knife | Naifu | ナイフ | ||
Spoon | Supūn | スプーン | ||
Ladle | Hishyaku | ひしゃく | 柄杓 | |
Dish (drying) rack | MIzu kiri | ミズキリ | 水切り | |
Colander | Korandā | コランダー | ||
Peeler | Gawa muki-ki or Pīrā | 皮むき器 or ピーラー | ||
Grater | Oroshi-ki or Gurātā | おろしき or グラーター | おろし器 | |
Bottle opener | Sen-nuki | センヌキ | 栓抜き | |
Aluminum foil | Arumi-hoiru | アルミホイル | ||
Plastic wrap | Rappu-firumu | ラップフィルム |
Everyone likes a neat and tidy kitchen
In the charts below are useful words related to cleaning up and recycling, after you’ve cooked that delicious meal!
Cleaning up and recycling | ||||
Sponge | Suponji | スポンジ | ||
Dish washing liquid | Shokkiyō senzai | しょっきよう せんざい | 食器用洗剤 | |
Dish washer (machine) | Shokki arai ki | ショッキアライキ | 食器洗い機 | |
Dish towel | Fukin | ふきん | ||
Pipe | Paipu | パイプ | ||
Clog | Tsumari | つまり | 詰まり | |
Garbage | Gomi | ゴミ | ||
Burnable garbage | Moeru gomi | もえるゴミ | 燃えるゴミ | |
Non-burnable garbage | Moenai gomi | もえないゴミ | 燃えないゴミ | |
Recycling | Risaikuru | リサクル | ||
Leftovers | Nokorimono | のこりもの | 残り物 | |
Oversized garbage | Sodai gomi | そだいゴミ | 粗大ゴミ |
Safety First
Below are some important words to know related to safety and lighting.
Lighting and safety | ||||
Smoke detector | Kemuri tanchi-ki | けむりタンチキ | 煙探知器 | |
Fire extinguisher | Shōkaki | しょうかき | 消火器 | |
Electric outlet | Consento | コンセント | ||
Ceiling light | Tenjō-tō | てんじょうとう | 天井灯 | |
Light bulb | Denkyuu | でんきゅう | 電球 | |
Light swtich | Denki no suichi | デンキのスイチ | 電気のスイチ | |
Electric outlet | Consento | コンセント |
A few cooking verbs
There are many, many verbs related to cooking, of course. Below are just a few basic ones.
A few kitchen verbs | ||||
Cut | Kiru | きる | 切る | |
Cook | Ryouri wo suru | りょうりをする | 料理をする | |
Boil | Wakasu | わかす | 沸かす | Also means heat, simmer, bubble, stew |
Bake | Yaku | やく | 焼く | Also means grill |
Mix | Mazeru | まぜる | 混ぜる | |
Heat up in microwave | Chin-suru | チンする | This is slang! | |
Eat out | Gaishutsu suru | ガイシュツする | 外出する | To _not_ cook at home! |
Freeze | Kōru | こおる | 凍る | |
Defrost | Kaitou suru | かいとう | 解凍 する | |
Clean up | Katazukeru | かたずける | 片ずける | |
Wash dishes | Shokki wo arau | しょっきをあらう | 食器を洗う | |
Separate garbage | Gomi wo bunbetsu suru | ゴミをぶんべつする | ゴミを分別する | |
Take out the trash | Gomi wo dasu | ゴミをだす | ゴミを出す |
A few good expressions
These are a few good phrases when you’re having a meal with friends or colleagues.
A few good expressions | ||||
What to say before a meal | Itadakimasu | 頂きます | Literally, “I’m grateful to receive (this food).” | |
To say thank after a meal | Gochisou-sama deshita | 御馳走様でした | Literallly, “That was a feast!” | |
Thank you for your invitation. | Go shōtai arigatōgozaimasu | ご招待有難うございます |
You may also be interested in: Guide to reading a Japanese apartment floor plan