Checking ingredients and substitutions | Learn Japanese in English

Japanese lesson set in a contemporary Tokyo everyday setting: Before cooking at home, two adults check ingredients, avoid walnuts for an allergy, and choose seeds as a substitute..

EN → JA / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Checking ingredients and substitutions to practice Japanese conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

料理を始める前に、材料と代用品を確認しましょう。

RYOH-ree o hah-jee-MEH-roo mah-EH-nee, ZAH-ee-RYOH toh dah-ee-YOH-heen o kah-koo-NEEN shee-mah-SHOH. Before we start cooking, let's check the ingredients and any substitutions.
B

レシピにはくるみが必要で、来客の一人にナッツアレルギーがあります。

REH-shee-pee nee-wah koo-roo-MEE gah hee-tsoo-YOH deh, RYE-kyah-koo noh hee-TOH-ree nee NAHT-tsoo ah-reh-roo-GHEE gah ah-REE-mahs. The recipe calls for walnuts, and one guest has a nut allergy.
A

それなら、くるみは完全に入れないようにしましょう。

soh-reh nah-RAH, koo-roo-MEE wah KAHN-zehn nee ee-reh-NAH-ee YOH-nee shee-mah-SHOH. Then we should leave the walnuts out completely.
B

炒った種なら、料理にカリッとした食感を加えられます。

EET-tah TAH-neh nah-RAH, RYOH-ree nee kah-REET-toh shee-TAH shoh-KAHN o koo-ah-eh-RAH-reh-mahs. Toasted seeds would still give the dish some crunch.
A

代わりに種を使い、料理をしている間はアレルギーのメモを見えるようにしておきましょう。

kah-wah-REE nee TAH-neh o tsoo-KAH-ee, RYOH-ree o shee-TEH-ee-roo ah-ee-dah wah ah-reh-roo-GHEE noh MEH-moh o mee-EH-roo YOH-nee shee-TEH oh-kee-mah-SHOH. Let's use seeds instead, and keep the allergy note visible while we cook.
B

これは焼き料理なので、分量を正確に守りましょう。

KOH-reh wah yah-kee-RYOH nah-noh-deh, boon-RYOH o say-KAH-koo mah-MOH-ree-mah-SHOH. Since this is a baked dish, we should still follow the measurements closely.
A

牛乳は足りますか、それとも私が買い足しましょうか。

GYOO-nyoo wah tah-REE-mahs kah, soh-reh-toh-MOH wah-tah-SHEE gah kah-ee-TAH-shee-mah-SHOH kah. Do we have enough milk, or should I buy more?
B

十分ありますが、使う前に日付を確認してください。

JOO-boon ah-REE-mahs gah, tsoo-KAH-oo mah-EH-nee hee-ZOO-keh o kah-koo-NEEN shee-TEH koo-dah-SAH-ee. We have enough, but check the date before using it.
A

材料は安全で、もう準備ができているようです。

ZAH-ee-RYOH wah AHN-zehn deh, moh-oh JOON-bee gah deh-KEE-teh ee-ROO YOH dehs. The ingredients look safe and ready now.
B

この確認で、アレルギーのリスクを避け、料理の味も保てそうです。

KOH-noh kah-koo-NEEN deh, ah-reh-roo-GHEE noh REE-soo-koo o sah-KEH, RYOH-ree noh ah-ZEE moh tah-MOH-teh-soh dehs. This check should help us avoid allergy risks and keep the dish tasting right.

Word by Word

料理 料理 means cooking here, in 料理を始める前に. It names the activity that is about to begin. The pattern Nを始める is reusable for saying that an activity is starting.
を を marks 料理 as the direct object of 始める in 料理を始める. It shows what is being started. A common pattern is Nを + verb, such as an activity followed by an action.
始める 始める means to start in 料理を始める前に. This exact form names the action that will begin before the checking. The reusable pattern is Nを始める, meaning to start N.
前 前 means before in 料理を始める前に. It refers to the earlier time in relation to starting cooking. The pattern V前に is useful for saying that something happens before an action.
に に marks the time point in 料理を始める前に. It connects 前 with the action that follows, showing when the checking should happen. This is useful when placing an action before a specific time or event.
材料 材料 means ingredients in 材料と代用品. It refers to the food items needed for the dish. In cooking, 材料 is commonly followed by を when the ingredients are checked, used, or prepared.
と と connects 材料 and 代用品 in 材料と代用品, meaning ingredients and substitutes. It joins the two items being checked together. Use と between nouns when listing them as a set.
代用品 代用品 means a substitute in 材料と代用品. It refers to something used in place of an original ingredient. It is useful when discussing replacement ingredients or other replacement items.
確認 確認 means checking or confirmation in 材料と代用品を確認しましょう. It names the act of making sure that the ingredients and substitutes are known and available. A common pattern is Nを確認する, to check N.
しましょう しましょう makes 確認しましょう a polite suggestion to do something together: let’s check. Here the speakers are proposing the shared action of checking. It is commonly used after an action to invite joint participation.
レシピ レシピ means recipe in レシピにはくるみが必要で. It refers to the instructions or ingredient plan for the dish. It is commonly used with ingredients, measurements, or cooking steps.
は は marks レシピ as the topic in レシピにはくるみが必要で. The sentence presents what the recipe requires. は is useful for setting a topic or highlighting a contrast.
くるみ くるみ means walnut in くるみが必要. It identifies the ingredient that the recipe requires. In this lesson, it is also the ingredient that must be left out because of the allergy.
が が marks くるみ as the thing that is necessary in くるみが必要. It identifies the subject of the statement about what is needed. The pattern Nが必要 is used to say that N is necessary.
必要 必要 means necessary or needed in くるみが必要. It says that walnuts are required by the recipe. The common pattern Nが必要 expresses that N is needed.
で で connects 必要で with the following information about a guest in くるみが必要で、来客の一人にナッツアレルギーがあります. It keeps the two related facts in one sentence. This form is useful when one description leads into another connected statement.
来客 来客 means a guest or visitor in 来客の一人. It refers to one person who has come to the home. It is useful in polite or somewhat formal descriptions of people visiting a place.
ナッツ ナッツ means nuts in ナッツアレルギー. It identifies the food category connected with the guest’s allergy. The word is commonly used before a related noun, as in this allergy expression.
アレルギー アレルギー means allergy in ナッツアレルギーがあります. It describes the guest’s medical sensitivity to nuts. The pattern Nアレルギーがあります can state that someone has an allergy to N.
あります あります means exists or is present in ナッツアレルギーがあります, so it expresses that the guest has an allergy. It is the polite form used for stating the presence of a condition or thing. The pattern Nがあります is useful for saying that N exists or is present.
それなら それなら means then or in that case in それなら、くるみは完全に入れないようにしましょう. それ refers back to the information just given, and なら treats that information as the situation for the next decision. Use it when responding to new information with a consequence or proposal.
完全 完全 means complete or total in 完全に入れない. With に, it emphasizes that the walnuts should be left out completely. It can be used before an action to show that something is done fully or without exception.
入れない 入れない means not put in or not add in くるみは完全に入れない. It states the decision not to add walnuts to the dish. The pattern Nを入れない is useful when excluding an ingredient or item.
よう よう contributes the meaning of making sure that something happens in 入れないようにしましょう. Together, 入れないようにしましょう means let’s make sure not to put it in; the whole construction, not よう alone, expresses that proposal. The reusable pattern Vないようにする means to make sure not to do something.
炒った 炒った describes seeds that have been toasted or dry-roasted in 炒った種. It appears before 種 to identify which seeds are being discussed. A past-form description before a noun can identify something that has already undergone an action.
種 種 means seeds in 炒った種なら. It identifies the ingredient proposed as a substitute for walnuts. In this scene, seeds are discussed as something that can add texture to the dish.
なら なら sets 炒った種 as the option being considered in 炒った種なら. The phrase means that if toasted seeds are used, they can provide the stated benefit. It is useful for presenting a condition or discussing one particular choice.
カリッと カリッと describes a crisp, crunchy quality in カリッとした食感. It tells us what kind of texture the seeds can give the dish. This kind of expression is useful when describing the texture of food.
した した links カリッと with 食感 in カリッとした食感, describing the texture as crisp. It helps turn the quality expressed by カリッと into a description before the noun. The pattern XとしたN can describe a noun with the quality expressed by X.
食感 食感 means texture or mouthfeel in カリッとした食感. It refers to how the food feels when eaten, rather than its flavor. It is useful when discussing whether food is crisp, soft, or otherwise textured.
加えられます 加えられます means can add in 料理にカリッとした食感を加えられます. It expresses that toasted seeds can give the dish a crisp texture. The pattern NにXを加えられます is useful for saying that X can be added to N.
代わり 代わり means instead or in place of in 代わりに種を使い. It introduces seeds as the replacement for walnuts. The reusable pattern Xの代わりにYを使う means to use Y instead of X.
使い 使い means using and links 種を使い with the next action in 種を使い、料理をしている間は. It keeps the two actions connected while the subject remains the same. This connecting form is useful when describing successive actions in one sentence.
している している means is doing or is in the process of doing in 料理をしている間. Here it describes cooking as an activity in progress. The pattern Vている間 means while someone is doing V.
間 間 means while or during in 料理をしている間は. It identifies the period during which the allergy note should remain visible. The pattern Vている間 is useful for describing another action that happens during an ongoing activity.
メモ メモ means note in アレルギーのメモ. It refers to the written reminder about the allergy. It is commonly used for short written information that helps people remember something.
見える 見える means be visible or can be seen in メモを見えるようにしておきましょう. It describes the note as remaining possible to see, while the whole construction means to keep it visible. The pattern Nが見える is useful for stating that something is visible.
しておきましょう しておきましょう means let’s do something in advance and leave it that way in 見えるようにしておきましょう. して continues the action of making, おき adds the sense of keeping the result prepared, and ましょう makes it a polite joint suggestion. Use this construction when preparing or maintaining something for later use.
これ これ means this in これは焼き料理なので. It points to the dish currently being discussed. It is commonly used before は when introducing or commenting on a nearby thing.
焼き料理 焼き料理 means a baked or roasted dish in これは焼き料理なので. It identifies the type of dish and provides the reason for following the measurements carefully. It is useful when discussing dishes prepared by baking or roasting.
なので なので means because or since in 焼き料理なので. It connects the fact that this is a baked dish with the advice that follows. The pattern Nなので gives a reason for a statement or recommendation.
分量 分量 means the amount or measurements in 分量を正確に守りましょう. It refers to how much of each ingredient the recipe specifies. In cooking, 分量 is commonly used with を and an action such as following or adjusting it.
正確 正確 means accurate or exact in 分量を正確に守りましょう. With に, it describes following the measurements precisely. It is useful when accuracy matters in an instruction or procedure.
守りましょう 守りましょう means let’s follow or keep in 分量を正確に守りましょう. Here it asks both speakers to follow the recipe’s measurements. The pattern Nを守りましょう can be used for jointly following a rule, instruction, or stated amount.
牛乳 牛乳 means milk in 牛乳は足りますか. It identifies the ingredient whose quantity is being checked. It is commonly used with cooking, drinking, or checking how much remains.
足ります 足ります means is enough or suffices in 牛乳は足りますか. The question asks whether the available milk will be sufficient. The pattern Nは足りますか is useful when checking whether a quantity is enough.
か か marks 牛乳は足りますか as a question. It turns the statement about sufficiency into a polite request for information. It is commonly placed at the end of a polite question.
それとも それとも means or else and introduces the alternative in それとも私が買い足しましょうか. それ points back to the first possibility, and とも contributes the alternative sense; together they present another option. Use it when offering a choice after a question or possibility.
私 私 means I or me in 私が買い足しましょうか. It identifies the speaker as the person who may buy more milk. It is useful when the speaker wants to make their own role explicit.
買い足しましょう 買い足しましょう means shall we buy more or shall I buy an additional amount in 私が買い足しましょうか. 買い combines with 足し to show adding to what is already available, and ましょう makes it a polite proposal. The pattern Nを買い足す is useful when the existing quantity is not enough.
十分 十分 means enough or sufficient in 十分あります. It says that the available milk meets the needed amount. It is commonly used before あります or other expressions of quantity.
使う 使う means to use in 使う前に. It names the action that will happen after the date is checked. The pattern Nを使う is a basic way to say that something is used.
日付 日付 means date in 日付を確認してください. It refers to the date that should be checked before using the milk. It is useful for checking labels, schedules, or other dated information.
してください してください makes 確認してください a polite request to check. It asks the listener to perform the preceding action. The pattern Vてください is commonly used for a respectful request or instruction.
安全 安全 means safe in 材料は安全で. It describes the ingredients as not presenting a safety problem in the current check. The pattern Nは安全です can state that something is safe.
もう もう means already or by now in もう準備ができているようです. It indicates that the preparation is complete at this point. It is commonly used before a state or completed result when saying that something has happened already.
準備 準備 means preparation or readiness in 準備ができている. It refers to the ingredients being ready for the cooking process. The pattern 準備ができる is useful for saying that preparation becomes complete.
できている できている means is ready or has been completed in 準備ができている. It describes a current state resulting from preparation being completed. The pattern Nができている is useful for stating that something is already prepared or finished.
です です is the polite copula in ようです. It gives the sentence a polite ending, while よう supplies the meaning that the ingredients appear to be safe and ready. It is commonly used after a noun or descriptive expression in polite statements.
この この means this in この確認. It points to the check that has just been carried out. It must be used before a noun, as in この確認 or another noun referring to something near the conversation.
リスク リスク means risk in アレルギーのリスク. It refers to the possibility of an allergy-related problem. It is useful when discussing a danger or unwanted possibility that should be reduced or avoided.
避け 避け means avoid and connects アレルギーのリスクを避け with the next result. It presents avoiding allergy risks as one benefit of the check. The pattern Nを避ける is useful for saying that a risk or unwanted event is avoided.
味 味 means taste or flavor in 料理の味も. It refers to the dish’s flavor, which the speakers also want to preserve. It is commonly used with の to describe the taste of a food or dish.
も も means also or as well in 料理の味も. It adds the dish’s taste to the allergy-risk point already mentioned. It is useful when including one more item or result in the statement.
保てそうです 保てそうです means seems likely to be able to maintain in 料理の味も保てそうです. 保て expresses the possibility of keeping the taste, and そうです presents this as the speaker’s assessment that it appears possible. The pattern Vそうです is useful when something seems likely based on the current situation.

Grammar Points

それなら、〜

それなら、くるみは完全に入れない。

soh-reh nah-RAH, koo-roo-MEE wah KAHN-zehn nee ee-reh-NAH-ee.

In that case, do not include walnuts at all.

それなら means “in that case” and connects a situation to the speaker’s next decision or suggestion.

〜られます

代用品は加えられます。

dah-ee-YOH-heen wah koo-ah-eh-RAH-reh-mahs.

A substitute can be added.

〜られます can express that an action is possible, often describing an available option.

Japanese Vocabulary

くるみ noun
koo-roo-MEE walnut
それなら conj
soh-reh nah-RAH then; in that case
ナッツアレルギー noun
NAHT-tsoo ah-reh-roo-GHEE nut allergy
レシピ noun
REH-shee-pee recipe
一人 num
hee-TOH-ree one person; one guest
確認する verb
kah-koo-NEEN soo-roo to check; to confirm 確認しましょう
材料 noun
ZAH-ee-RYOH ingredients; materials
始める verb
hah-jee-MEH-roo to start; to begin
代用品 noun
dah-ee-YOH-heen substitute; replacement
必要だ adj
hee-tsoo-YOH dah to be necessary; to be needed 必要で
来客 noun
RYE-kyah-koo guest; visitor
料理 noun
RYOH-ree cooking; dish

料理を始める前に

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to check; to confirm

Show Answer確認しましょう

then; in that case

Show Answerそれなら

nut allergy

Show Answerナッツアレルギー

substitute; replacement

Show Answer代用品