About This Lesson
Use Taking a Beginner Cooking Class to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
コミュニティセンターで料理教室があるよ。
koh-MYOO-nih-tee SEN-tah deh RYOH-ree KYOH-shi-tsoo gah ah-roo yoh There's a cooking class at the community center.
B
どんな料理の作り方を教えてくれるの？
DOHN-nah RYOH-ree noh tsoo-koo-ree-KAH-tah oh oh-SHEE-eh-teh koo-reh-roo noh? What kind of dishes will they teach you to make?
A
簡単なパスタ料理と基本的なソースだよ。
KAHN-tahn-nah PAHS-tah RYOH-ree toh kee-HOHN-teh-kee-nah SOH-soo dah yoh Simple pasta dishes and basic sauces.
B
初心者でも参加できるの？
shoh-SHEEN-shah deh-moh sahn-KAHN deh-kee-roo noh? Is it open to beginners?
A
その教室は基本的な手順から始まるよ。
soh-noh KYOH-shi-tsoo wah kee-HOHN-teh-kee-nah teh-JOON kah-rah hah-ji-MAH-roo yoh The class starts with basic steps.
B
申し込んだほうがいいよ。
moh-shee-KOHN-dah hoh gah EE yoh You should sign up.
A
役に立つレシピを一つ覚えたいな。
yah-koo nee TAHT-soo REH-shee-pee oh hee-TOH-tsoo oh-boh-EH-tah-ee nah I want to learn one useful recipe.
B
そのあと、私たちのためにそれを作れるね。
soh-noh AH-toh, wah-tah-SHEE-tah-chee noh tah-meh-nee SOH-reh oh tsoo-KEH-roo neh? You can cook it for us afterward.Word by Word
コミュニティ
In 「コミュニティセンター」, this means “community” and identifies a place serving the local community. It is used together with 「センター」 to name the community center. You can use it when talking about local groups, spaces, or activities.
センター
In 「コミュニティセンター」, this means “center,” referring to a place where community activities take place. Together with 「コミュニティ」, it names the community center. Use it when identifying a center for classes or other activities.
で
In 「コミュニティセンターで料理教室があるよ」, 「で」 marks the place where the class is held. It connects the location with the activity or event. It is useful for saying where an activity takes place.
料理
In 「料理教室」, 「料理」 refers to cooking as the subject of the class, while in 「料理の作り方」 it refers to dishes or food being prepared. Its meaning depends on the expression around it. Use it when talking about cooking or prepared dishes.
教室
In 「料理教室」 and 「その教室」, 「教室」 means a class or organized place of instruction. Here it is a cooking class rather than simply a physical classroom. Use it for lessons or classes in a particular subject.
が
In 「料理教室があるよ」, 「が」 marks the class as the thing that exists or is being held. It identifies what there is at the stated location. It also appears inside the fixed recommendation 「ほうがいい」.
ある
In 「料理教室があるよ」, 「ある」 says that the cooking class exists or is available. It is used here to introduce an event or class that is being offered. Use it when telling someone that something is available or taking place.
よ
At the end of 「料理教室があるよ」, 「よ」 adds an assertive, informative tone. The speaker presents the information as something the listener should know. It is useful when giving someone new information in conversation.
どんな
In 「どんな料理」, 「どんな」 asks what kind or sort of dishes are involved. It comes directly before the noun it describes. Use it when asking about the type or character of something.
の
In 「料理の作り方」, 「の」 connects 「料理」 with 「作り方」 and means “of” or “for.” At the end of 「教えてくれるの？」, it helps make the sentence a question. Its function here depends on whether it connects nouns or ends the question.
作り方
In 「料理の作り方」, 「作り方」 means the way or method of making something. It tells the listener that the class teaches preparation methods, not just names of dishes. Use it when asking or talking about how to make something.
を
In 「作り方を教えてくれるの？」, 「を」 marks 「作り方」 as what is taught, and in 「それを作れるね」 it marks 「それ」 as what can be made. It identifies the direct object of the action. Use it before the thing someone teaches, makes, or does.
教えて
In 「作り方を教えてくれるの？」, 「教えて」 means “teach” or “tell” and introduces what the class will teach. It is followed by 「くれる」 to show that the teaching is done for the listener. Use it when asking someone to explain or teach something.
くれる
In 「教えてくれるの？」, 「くれる」 shows that someone does something for the speaker or listener’s benefit. Together, 「作り方を教えてくれる」 asks whether they will teach the way to make the dishes. Use it when describing a helpful action another person does for someone.
簡単な
In 「簡単なパスタ料理」, 「簡単な」 means simple or easy and describes the dishes that will be taught. The form 「簡単な」 is used directly before the noun 「パスタ料理」. Use it when describing a task, recipe, or activity as easy to do.
パスタ
In 「パスタ料理」, 「パスタ」 means pasta. It identifies the type of dishes included in the class. Use it when talking about pasta as a food or as part of a dish name.
と
In 「簡単なパスタ料理と基本的なソース」, 「と」 connects the two listed items and means “and.” It joins the pasta dishes with the basic sauces. Use it to link nouns in a simple list.
基本的な
In 「基本的なソース」 and 「基本的な手順」, 「基本的な」 means basic or fundamental. It describes content suitable as a starting point for the class. Use it before a noun when referring to essential knowledge, methods, or items.
ソース
In 「基本的なソース」, 「ソース」 means sauce. It is one of the kinds of food preparation covered by the class. Use it when talking about a sauce used with a dish.
だ
At the end of 「基本的なソースだよ」, 「だ」 identifies the preceding noun phrase as the answer. Together with 「よ」, it casually states that the items are basic sauces. Use it in casual statements that identify or describe something.
初心者
In 「初心者でも参加できるの？」, 「初心者」 means a beginner or someone with little experience. The question asks whether even beginners can join the class. Use it when describing a person who is new to an activity.
でも
In 「初心者でも参加できるの？」, 「でも」 adds the meaning “even” or “including.” It emphasizes that beginners are included among the people who can participate. Use it when saying that a condition or permission applies even to a particular group.
参加
In 「参加できる」, 「参加」 supplies the idea of taking part in the class. With 「できる」, the expression means “can participate.” Use it when talking about joining an event, class, or activity.
できる
In 「初心者でも参加できるの？」, 「できる」 expresses ability or possibility: beginners can participate. It follows 「参加」 to form the expression “be able to take part.” Use it when asking or stating whether someone can do or join something.
その
In 「その教室」, 「その」 refers to the class that was just mentioned. It lets the speaker identify the already-known cooking class without repeating its full description. Use it before a noun when referring to something previously discussed.
は
In 「その教室は基本的な手順から始まるよ」, 「は」 marks 「その教室」 as the topic. The rest of the sentence gives information about that class. Use it to set the main topic of a statement.
手順
In 「基本的な手順」, 「手順」 means the sequence of steps or procedure for doing something. The class begins with these basic steps. Use it when explaining an ordered method or process.
から
In 「基本的な手順から始まるよ」, 「から」 marks the starting point, meaning “from” or “starting with” the basic steps. It shows where the class begins. Use it when describing the point or stage from which something starts.
始まる
In 「その教室は基本的な手順から始まるよ」, 「始まる」 means that the class begins. The phrase with 「から」 explains what content comes first. Use it when saying how an event, lesson, or process starts.
申し込んだ
In 「申し込んだほうがいいよ」, 「申し込んだ」 is the form used for recommending that someone sign up or apply. Its citation form is 「申し込む」. Here it refers to registering for the cooking class.
ほうがいい
In 「申し込んだほうがいいよ」, the whole construction recommends signing up and means “you should sign up” or “it is better to sign up.” 「ほう」 presents the recommended option, 「が」 connects that option with the judgment, and 「いい」 means “good.” Use this construction when giving practical advice.
役に立つ
In 「役に立つレシピ」, 「役に立つ」 means “be useful” or “be helpful.” 「役」 refers to a useful role, 「に」 connects that role to the state, and 「立つ」 completes the expression; together they describe something that helps. Use it for a recipe, tool, or piece of information that is useful in practice.
レシピ
In 「役に立つレシピ」, 「レシピ」 means a recipe or instructions for preparing a dish. The speaker wants to learn one recipe that will be useful. Use it when talking about instructions for cooking a particular dish.
覚えたい
In 「レシピを一つ覚えたいな」, 「覚えたい」 expresses the speaker’s desire to learn or remember one recipe. Its citation form is 「覚える」, and the form used here adds the meaning “want to.” Use it when saying that you want to learn or remember something.
な
At the end of 「覚えたいな」, 「な」 gives the statement a soft, reflective tone. It makes the speaker’s wish sound personal and conversational. Use it when expressing a thought or desire gently.
あと
In 「そのあと」, 「あと」 means “after that” or “afterward.” It places the cooking for the others after the class or learning mentioned earlier. Use it in time expressions to refer to a later point.
私たち
In 「私たちのために」, 「私たち」 means “us” or “we,” referring to the speaker and the other people included with them. Here the group is the beneficiary of the cooking. Use it when referring to oneself together with other people.
ため
In 「私たちのために」, 「ため」 expresses the sake or benefit of someone. The whole phrase means “for us,” showing who will benefit from the cooking. Use it when explaining the beneficiary or purpose of an action.
に
In 「役に立つ」, 「に」 is part of the expression meaning “be useful,” while in 「私たちのために」 it marks the beneficiary of the action. In this dialogue, it connects a relationship or purpose to the following expression. Use it with fixed expressions such as these when describing usefulness or doing something for someone.
それ
In 「それを作れるね」, 「それ」 refers to the recipe or dish already mentioned. It avoids repeating what was learned in the class. Use it when pointing back to something known from the conversation.
作れる
In 「それを作れるね」, 「作れる」 means “can make” or, for food, “can cook.” Its citation form is 「作る」, and this form expresses ability. Use it with the thing being made before it, as in the pattern “can make the object.”
ね
At the end of 「そのあと、私たちのためにそれを作れるね」, 「ね」 seeks agreement or presents the statement as something shared by both speakers. The sentence sounds like a friendly suggestion or confirmation. Use it when checking that the listener agrees or expects the same result.
Grammar Points
〜て
簡単なパスタ料理の作り方を教えて。
KAHN-tahn-nah PAHS-tah RYOH-ree noh tsoo-koo-ree-KAH-tah oh oh-SHEH-tehPlease teach me how to make a simple pasta dish.
The て-form can be used to make a casual request. The subject is often omitted when it is understood.
〜ほうがいい
初心者は料理教室に参加したほうがいい。
shoh-SHEEN-shah wah RYOH-ree KYOH-shi-tsoo nee sahn-KAHN-shee-tah hoh gah EEBeginners should join the cooking class.
ほうがいい expresses advice or a recommendation. It means that one option is better than another.
Japanese Vocabulary
ソース
noun
SOH-soo
sauce
簡単なパスタ料理と基本的なソースだよ。
どんな
det
DOHN-nah
what kind of
どんな料理の作り方を教えてくれるの?
パスタ料理
noun
PAHS-tah RYOH-ree
pasta dish
簡単なパスタ料理と基本的なソースだよ。
簡単な
adj
KAHN-tahn-nah
simple; easy
簡単なパスタ料理と基本的なソースだよ。
基本的な
adj
kee-HOHN-teh-kee-nah
basic
簡単なパスタ料理と基本的なソースだよ。
教える
verb
oh-shee-EH-roo
to teach
教えて
どんな料理の作り方を教えてくれるの?
作り方
noun
tsoo-koo-ree-KAH-tah
how to make; recipe method
どんな料理の作り方を教えてくれるの?
参加する
verb
sahn-KAHN soo-roo
to participate; to join
参加できる
初心者でも参加できるの?
手順
noun
teh-JOON
steps; procedure
その教室は基本的な手順から始まるよ。
初心者
noun
shoh-SHEEN-shah
beginner
初心者でも参加できるの?
料理
noun
RYOH-ree
dish; cooking
どんな料理の作り方を教えてくれるの?
料理教室
noun
RYOH-ree KYOH-shi-tsoo
cooking class
コミュニティセンターで料理教室があるよ。
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
pasta dish
Show Answer
パスタ料理cooking class
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料理教室basic
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基本的なto participate; to join