Cooking Dinner Together with a Simple Soup Recipe | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: At home, two adults cook soup together, follow a simple recipe, and taste it before adding more seasoning..

EN → JA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Cooking Dinner Together with a Simple Soup Recipe to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

このレシピなら夕食に十分簡単そうです。

koh-noh reh-SHEE-pee nah-rah YOO-shoh-koo nee JOO-boon KAHN-tahn soh-oh dess This recipe looks simple enough for dinner.
B

あなたがお湯を沸かしている間、私は野菜を切れます。

ah-NAH-tah gah oh-YOO oh wah-kah-SHEE-teh-EE-roo ah-ee-DAH, wah-TAH-shee wah yah-SAH-ee oh kee-REH-mahss I can chop the vegetables while you boil water.
A

スープはどのくらい煮ればいいですか。

SOO-poo wah doh-noh koo-RAH-ee NEE-reh-bah EE dess-kah How long should the soup cook?
B

野菜が柔らかくなるまで煮てください。

yah-SAH-ee gah yah-wah-rah-kah-koo NAH-roo MAH-deh NEE-teh koo-DAH-sah-ee Let it cook until the vegetables are soft.
A

私たちはもっと塩を加える前に、味見をしたほうがいいですか。

wah-TAH-shee-tah-chee wah MOHT-toh shee-OH oh koo-ah-EH-roo MAH-eh nee, ah-jee-MEE oh shee-tah hoh-GAH EE dess-kah Should we taste it before we add more salt?
B

まず味見をしてください。

MAH-zoo ah-jee-MEE oh shee-teh koo-DAH-sah-ee Taste it first.
B

それから、私たちは丁寧に味付けできます。

soh-reh-kah-RAH, wah-TAH-shee-tah-chee wah teh-NEH-nee nee ah-jee-TSKEH deh-kee-MAHSS Then we can season it carefully.
A

今はスープがおいしくなりました。

EE-mah wah SOO-poo gah oh-EE-shee-koo nah-ree-MAH-shee-tah The soup tastes better now.
B

次回は、私たちはもっとハーブを入れられます。

jee-KAH-ee wah, wah-TAH-shee-tah-chee wah MOHT-toh HAA-boo oh ee-reh-RAH-reh-MAHSS Next time we can add more herbs.

Word by Word

この この means “this” and identifies the recipe as the one being discussed. It comes directly before a noun, as in このレシピ. Use it when pointing out a particular nearby or known thing.
レシピ レシピ means “recipe,” the instructions for preparing the soup here. It is a noun and is followed by なら in このレシピなら to set this recipe as the condition or topic. Use it when talking about cooking instructions.
なら なら means “if it is this” or “in the case of this,” so このレシピなら presents this recipe as the basis for the judgment. It follows このレシピ here. The pattern noun + なら is useful when responding about a particular option or situation.
夕食 夕食 means “dinner” in this dialogue. In 夕食に, に shows that the recipe is suitable for or intended for dinner. A meal or purpose can be followed by に when saying what something is for.
に In 夕食に, に means “for” and marks dinner as the intended meal. It connects 夕食 with the suitability expressed by 十分簡単そうです. This use of に identifies a purpose or occasion for something.
十分 十分 means “enough” here and strengthens 簡単そうです to mean “seems simple enough.” It comes before the description it limits, as in 十分簡単そうです. Use 十分 before an adjective or description when the degree meets a requirement.
簡単 簡単 means “simple” or “easy” here, describing the recipe. In 簡単そう, it combines with そう to say that the recipe appears simple. Use it to describe a task, method, or object that does not seem difficult.
そう そう means “seems” or “looks” in 簡単そうです, expressing an impression based on appearance or available information. It follows 簡単 here to form the impression “seems simple.” The pattern adjective + そう is useful for describing how something appears.
です です is the polite ending of the statement 簡単そうです. It presents the description politely rather than changing the main meaning. Use it at the end of a polite statement.
あなた あなた means “you” and identifies the person who is boiling the water in あなたが. It is followed by が because that person is the subject of the action. Use it when the addressee needs to be clearly identified as the person doing something.
が が marks あなた as the subject in あなたがお湯を沸かしている間. It shows who is carrying out the action 沸かしている. A noun followed by が can identify the subject of an action or state.
お湯 お湯 means “hot water” here, the water being boiled for cooking. It is the object of 沸かしている and is followed by を in お湯を. Use it when referring to hot water used for cooking or drinks.
を を marks お湯 as the object of 沸かしている in お湯を沸かしている. It shows what is being acted on. A noun followed by を commonly comes before a verb that acts directly on that noun.
沸かして 沸かして is the て-form of 沸かす and means “boiling” or “heating” here. In 沸かしている, it connects the action of boiling the water with いる, showing that the action is in progress. The pattern verb-て + いる is useful for describing an ongoing action.
いる いる helps 沸かしている express that boiling the water is currently in progress. It follows the て-form 沸かして rather than carrying the main action by itself. Use verb-ている to describe an action happening at a particular time.
間 間 means “while” or “during” in お湯を沸かしている間. It marks the period during which another action takes place. A clause followed by 間 can describe something that happens throughout that period.
私 私 means “I” here and identifies the person who can cut the vegetables. In 私は, it is followed by は because it is the topic of the statement. Use it to state what you will do or can do.
は は marks 私 as the topic in 私は野菜を切れます. It sets up what the speaker can do while the other person boils water. A noun followed by は introduces the main topic of a statement.
野菜 野菜 means “vegetables,” the food that will be cut for the soup. In 野菜を切れます, it is marked by を as the object of cutting. Use it when talking about vegetables as an ingredient or food.
切れます 切れます means “can cut” here and expresses the speaker’s ability to cut the vegetables. It is used with 野菜を as the thing being cut in 野菜を切れます. Use it when stating that someone is able to cut a particular object.
スープ スープ means “soup,” the dish being cooked and tasted in this lesson. It is the topic or subject in スープは and スープがおいしくなりました. Use it when referring to the soup as a dish being prepared or evaluated.
どのくらい どのくらい asks “how long” in どのくらい煮ればいいですか. どの asks about an unspecified amount or degree, and くらい indicates the extent being asked about; together they ask for the extent of the cooking time. Use it before an action when asking how much time or degree is needed.
煮れば 煮れば is the conditional form of 煮る and means “if or when simmered” in どのくらい煮ればいいですか. Together with いいですか, it asks how long the soup should be simmered. The pattern verb-ば + いいですか asks what action or amount is appropriate.
いい いい means “good” or “appropriate” in 煮ればいいですか. In this pattern, it asks what would be the suitable way or amount of cooking rather than simply describing something as good. Use it in verb-ば + いい to ask or state what is advisable.
か か marks どのくらい煮ればいいですか as a question. It turns the preceding polite statement into a request for information. Use it at the end of a polite question.
柔らかく 柔らかく means “soft” or “tender” as the resulting state in 柔らかくなる. Its form connects the description of the vegetables with なる, meaning that they become soft. The pattern adjective-く + なる describes a change into a state.
なる なる means “become” in 柔らかくなる, describing the vegetables changing to a soft state. It follows 柔らかく to show the result of cooking. Use it after an adjective in the pattern adjective-く + なる to describe a change.
まで まで means “until” in 野菜が柔らかくなるまで. It marks the point that should be reached before the cooking stops. A clause followed by まで can specify the endpoint of an action.
煮て 煮て is the て-form of 煮る and means “simmer” or “cook” here. In 煮てください, it connects the cooking action with ください to make a polite request. The pattern verb-てください is used to ask someone to do something.
ください ください makes 煮てください a polite request meaning “please simmer or cook it.” Here it follows the て-form 煮て and does not stand alone. Use verb-てください when giving a courteous instruction or request.
私たち 私たち means “we” and refers to the two people cooking together. It is the subject of the shared actions in 私たちは and 私たちは丁寧に味付けできます. Use it when including the speaker and at least one other person in an action or plan.
もっと もっと means “more” in もっと塩を加える, referring to an increased amount of salt. It comes before the thing whose amount is increased. Use もっと before a noun or description when asking for or describing an additional amount.
塩 塩 means “salt,” the seasoning that may be added to the soup. In もっと塩を加える, it is the object of 加える and is marked by を. Use it when talking about salt as an ingredient or seasoning.
加える 加える means “add” in もっと塩を加える前に. It describes putting more salt into the soup, and the object being added appears before を. In 加える前に, the dictionary form connects the action to the meaning “before adding.”
前 前 means “before” in 加える前に. It follows 加える and identifies the time before the action of adding salt. The pattern dictionary-form verb + 前に is useful for saying that something happens before an action.
味見 味見 means “tasting” or “a taste test” here, referring to checking the soup’s flavor. In 味見をした, it is treated as an action with を and する. Use 味見 when tasting food to decide whether its flavor needs adjustment.
した した is the past form of する inside 味見をしたほうがいいですか. In this construction, it refers to the tasting that is advisable, not to an action already completed. It is used before ほうがいい to recommend an action.
ほうがいい ほうがいい presents an action as the better or advisable choice, so 味見をしたほうがいいですか asks whether tasting would be better. ほう means an option or course, が links that option to いい, and いい means “good” or “better.” The pattern verb-た + ほうがいい is useful for giving advice.
まず まず means “first” in まず味見をしてください. It tells the listener that tasting should happen before the next step. Use it to mark the first action in a sequence of instructions.
して して is the て-form of する in 味見をしてください. It joins ください to make a polite request meaning “please do the tasting.” The pattern verb-てください is useful for polite instructions.
それから それから means “then” or “after that” and introduces the next cooking step. それ points back to the preceding matter, and から contributes the sense of what follows from that point; together they connect the steps in order. Use it at the start of a sentence when explaining what happens next.
丁寧 丁寧 means “careful” in 丁寧に味付けできます, where 丁寧に describes how the seasoning can be done. The に form lets it modify the action 味付けできます. Use 丁寧に before an action when emphasizing careful execution.
味付け 味付け refers to seasoning the soup or adjusting its flavor. In 丁寧に味付けできます, it is the cooking action that the speakers can perform carefully. Use it when talking about adding or adjusting seasoning in food.
できます できます means “can do” in 丁寧に味付けできます, expressing that the speakers are able to season the soup carefully. It follows the action noun 味付け here. An action noun followed by できます can express ability or possibility.
今 今 means “now” in 今はスープがおいしくなりました. It places the statement at the present time after the soup has been adjusted. Use it to contrast the current state with an earlier state or to describe what is true at this moment.
おいしく おいしく means “delicious” or “better-tasting” as the resulting state in おいしくなりました. It connects the taste description with なりました to say that the soup became tastier. The pattern adjective-く + なる describes becoming a certain quality.
なりました なりました means “became” in おいしくなりました, describing the change in the soup’s taste. It is the polite past form of なる and shows that the change has occurred. Use adjective-く + なりました to politely describe a completed change in quality.
次回 次回 means “next time” and refers to a later occasion for preparing the soup. In 次回は, it is marked as the topic of the future suggestion. Use it when discussing what should or can happen on the next occasion.
ハーブ ハーブ means “herbs,” which the speakers may add to the soup next time. It is the item being added in ハーブを入れられます. Use it when referring to herbs as ingredients or seasonings.
入れられます 入れられます means “can put in” or “can add” here, referring to adding herbs to the soup. ハーブ is the item being added in ハーブを入れられます. The pattern noun + を + 入れられます expresses the ability to put something into a dish or container.

Grammar Points

〜そう

簡単そう

KAHN-tahn soh-oh

It looks easy.

Attach そう to an adjective stem to describe how something appears or seems.

〜ば

煮れば

NEE-reh-bah

if you simmer it

The ば form expresses a condition: if you do something, another result follows.

Japanese Vocabulary

お湯 noun
oh-YOO hot water

あなたがお湯を沸かしている間、私は野菜を切れます。

どのくらい phrase
doh-noh koo-RAH-ee how long; how much

スープはどのくらい煮ればいいですか。

レシピ noun
reh-SHEE-pee recipe

このレシピなら夕食に十分簡単そうです。

簡単 adj
KAHN-tahn simple; easy 簡単そう

このレシピなら夕食に十分簡単そうです。

煮る verb
NEE-roo to simmer; to cook 煮れば

スープはどのくらい煮ればいいですか。

十分 adv
JOO-boon enough; sufficiently

このレシピなら夕食に十分簡単そうです。

柔らかい adj
yah-wah-rah-KAH-ee soft; tender 柔らかく

野菜が柔らかくなるまで煮てください。

切る verb
kee-ROO to cut; to chop 切れます

あなたがお湯を沸かしている間、私は野菜を切れます。

沸かす verb
wah-KAH-soo to boil 沸かしている

あなたがお湯を沸かしている間、私は野菜を切れます。

味見 noun
ah-jee-MEE tasting; taste test

私たちはもっと塩を加える前に、味見をしたほうがいいですか。

野菜 noun
yah-SAH-ee vegetables

あなたがお湯を沸かしている間、私は野菜を切れます。

夕食 noun
YOO-shoh-koo dinner

このレシピなら夕食に十分簡単そうです。

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to cut; to chop

Show Answer切れます

simple; easy

Show Answer簡単そう

to boil

Show Answer沸かしている

how long; how much

Show Answerどのくらい