Checking ingredients before cooking | Learn Korean in English

Korean lesson set in a contemporary Seoul everyday setting: At home, two adults check ingredients before cooking and decide to buy onions before measuring rice..

EN → KO / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Checking ingredients before cooking to practice Korean conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

요리를 시작하기 전에, 어떤 재료가 있어요?

yo-REE-rul shee-JAH-gee juh-NEH, uh-TTUHN jeh-RYOH-gah ee-SSUH-yo Before we start cooking, what ingredients do we have?
B

레시피에는 양파와 토마토가 필요해요.

reh-SHEE-pee-eh-nun yang-PAH-wah toh-MAH-toh-gah pee-RYOH-heh-yo The recipe needs onions and tomatoes.
A

토마토는 있지만, 양파는 다 떨어졌어요.

toh-MAH-toh-nun ee-JJI-man, yang-PAH-nun dah ttuhr-uh-JYUH-suh-yo We have tomatoes, but we're out of onions.
B

대신 대파를 써도 돼요?

deh-SHIN deh-PAH-rul ssuh-DOH dweh-yo Can we use green onions instead?
A

아마도요. 하지만 맛은 다를 거예요.

ah-MAH-doh-yo. hah-JEE-man MAH-sun DAH-rul guh-yeh-yo Maybe, but the taste will be different.
B

그럼 제가 근처 가게에서 양파를 사 올게요.

guh-RUM jeh-GAH-guhn chuhn-CHUH gah-GEH-eh-suh yang-PAH-rul sah OHL-kkeh-yo Then I'll buy onions from the corner shop.
A

아직 쌀을 재야 해요.

ah-JEEK ssah-rul JEH-yah heh-yo We still need to measure the rice.
B

돌아온 후에 네 명이 먹을 만큼 쌀을 잴게요.

toh-RAH-on hoo-EH neh MYUHNG-ee muh-GUL man-kum ssah-rul JEL-kkeh-yo I'll measure enough rice for four people after I get back.

Word by Word

요리를 요리를 means “cooking” as the object of starting in 요리를 시작하기 전에. The ending 를 marks what is being started; use it after an object before an action such as 시작하기.
시작하기 시작하기 means “starting” here, in the expression 요리를 시작하기 전에, “before starting cooking.” It is the noun-like form of 시작하다 used before 전에; this pattern can place an action before a later event.
전에 전에 means “before” and places 요리를 시작하기 before the question about the ingredients. It follows an event or action to express that the next action happens earlier.
어떤 어떤 asks “what kind of” or “which” when it comes before 재료가. Here it asks which ingredients are available; it commonly comes directly before a noun when asking for a selection or description.
재료가 재료가 means “ingredients” as the subject of what is available in 어떤 재료가 있어요? The ending 가 marks 재료 as the thing that exists or is available; use this subject pattern with 있어요 when asking what is present.
있어요 있어요 means “are available” or, in this home context, “we have” when asking 어떤 재료가 있어요? It presents something as existing or being available; 재료가 있어요 is a reusable way to say that ingredients are on hand.
레시피에는 레시피에는 sets the recipe as the reference point for what is needed: 레시피에는 양파와 토마토가 필요해요. The ending 는 adds a topic or contrast to 에; use this kind of form to say what applies to a particular place, source, or topic.
양파와 양파와 means “onions and,” joining 양파 with 토마토 in the list of ingredients the recipe needs. 와 connects this noun to the following noun; it is used between nouns when listing them together.
토마토가 토마토가 means “tomatoes” as the subject of what is needed in 레시피에는 양파와 토마토가 필요해요. The ending 가 marks the needed item; use a noun with 이 or 가 before 필요해요.
필요해요 필요해요 means “are needed” in the recipe context. It states that the subject is necessary, as in 양파와 토마토가 필요해요; use the pattern [thing]이/가 필요해요 for something required.
토마토는 토마토는 means “as for the tomatoes” and sets them against the onions in 토마토는 있지만, 양파는 다 떨어졌어요. The ending 는 marks the topic and helps introduce a contrast between what is available and what is not.
있지만 있지만 means “there are” or “we have,” followed by “but,” in 토마토는 있지만. It comes from 있다 with the contrast ending 지만; use it when one fact is true but a different fact follows.
양파는 양파는 means “as for the onions” and introduces the contrasting item in 양파는 다 떨어졌어요. The ending 는 marks 양파 as the topic; it is useful when comparing the status of one item with another.
다 다 means “all” or “completely” in 다 떨어졌어요, showing that the onions are entirely gone. Before a verb, it can indicate that the relevant amount or supply has been used up completely.
떨어졌어요 떨어졌어요 means “has run out” or “is no longer available” here, as part of 양파는 다 떨어졌어요. The citation form is 떨어지다, and with 다 this form describes the complete loss of the onion supply; it can describe a supply becoming unavailable.
대신 대신 means “instead” and introduces 대파 as a replacement for the unavailable onions. It commonly comes before the substitute or alternative being considered.
대파를 대파를 means “green onions” as the object being considered for use in 대신 대파를 써도 돼요? The ending 를 marks what may be used; use an object-marked ingredient before 쓰다 when naming what to use.
써도 써도 presents using 대파 as an option that may be acceptable in 대신 대파를 써도 돼요? It is the form of 쓰다 used before 돼요 in this permission construction; the pattern [object]을/를 써도 돼요? asks whether something may be used.
돼요 돼요 means “is okay” or “is allowed” in 써도 돼요? Together with 써도, it asks for permission to use green onions. It commonly completes the pattern [action]어도 돼요? for asking whether an action is permitted.
아마도요 아마도요 means “maybe” or “probably” as a brief, polite answer to the suggestion about green onions. It expresses an uncertain but possible response; use it when you do not want to give a definite answer.
하지만 하지만 means “but” or “however” and links the tentative answer 아마도요 to the warning that the taste will differ. It introduces a contrasting point after a previous statement.
맛은 맛은 means “as for the taste” in 맛은 다를 거예요. The ending 는 makes taste the topic of the prediction; use it when shifting attention to one aspect for comparison or comment.
다를 다를 means “will be different” or “be different” before 거예요 in 맛은 다를 거예요. It is the form of 다르다 that connects the description of taste to an expectation; it commonly appears before 거예요 when describing an expected state.
거예요 거예요 completes the expectation in 맛은 다를 거예요, “the taste will be different.” With the preceding 다를, it presents the difference as an expected result; the pattern [description] 거예요 can express an expectation or prediction.
그럼 그럼 means “then” or “in that case” and introduces the decision to buy onions after the discussion about using green onions. It is commonly used at the start of a response when a conclusion follows from what was just said.
제가 제가 means “I” as the subject of the speaker’s offer in 제가 근처 가게에서 양파를 사 올게요. The ending 가 marks the speaker as the person who will act; in this context, it helps identify who is taking responsibility for the task.
근처 근처 means “nearby” or “the nearby area” in 근처 가게, “a nearby shop.” It comes before a noun to describe something located close to the relevant place.
가게에서 가게에서 means “at the shop” or “from the shop,” marking where the buying takes place in 근처 가게에서 양파를 사 올게요. The ending 에서 marks the location of an action and can also identify the source of something obtained.
양파를 양파를 means “onions” as the object of buying in 양파를 사 올게요. The ending 를 marks what is bought; use it after the item that receives the action of 사다.
사 사 means “buy” here and connects to 올게요 in 사 올게요, “buy and come back.” It is the verb stem of 사다 used in this connected action; the full expression keeps both actions together.
올게요 올게요 expresses the speaker’s commitment to come back, and in 사 올게요 the whole expression means “I’ll buy them and bring them back.” It comes from 오다 with the commitment ending 게요; use this ending when offering or promising to do something for the current situation.
아직 아직 means “still” in 아직 쌀을 재야 해요, showing that measuring the rice remains to be done. It commonly marks an expected action that has not been completed yet.
쌀을 쌀을 means “rice” as the object of measuring in 쌀을 재야 해요. The ending 를 marks what will be measured; use an object-marked noun before an action such as 재다.
재야 재야 means “must measure” when followed by 해요 in 쌀을 재야 해요. It comes from 재다 with the requirement form 야; the pattern [action]아/어야 해요 expresses that the action is necessary.
해요 해요 completes the obligation expression 재야 해요, meaning that the rice needs to be measured. Here it does not independently mean simply “do”; together with 재야, it forms a polite statement of necessity.
돌아온 돌아온 means “returned” or “came back” in 돌아온 후에, “after coming back.” It is the form of 돌아오다 that modifies 후에; use an action in this modifier position to identify what happens before a later event.
후에 후에 means “after” in 돌아온 후에, placing the measuring after the speaker returns. It follows an event or action to set the time of the next action.
네 네 means “four” and specifies the number before 명이 in 네 명이 먹을 만큼. It is used here as the number of people whose rice portion will be measured.
명이 명이 marks people as the subject of 먹을 in 네 명이 먹을 만큼, meaning “the amount four people will eat.” 명 is the people counter and 이 marks that group as the subject; use a number with 명 when counting people.
먹을 먹을 means “will eat” or “to eat” in 네 명이 먹을 만큼, describing the amount that four people are expected to eat. It is the form of 먹다 used before 만큼; this pattern links an eater and an action to the amount being set.
만큼 만큼 means “as much as” or “enough for” in 네 명이 먹을 만큼 쌀을 잴게요. It sets the amount of rice to the amount four people will eat; it commonly follows an action description to express a matching quantity.
잴게요 잴게요 means “I’ll measure” as the speaker’s commitment to measure the rice after returning. It comes from 재다 with the commitment ending 게요; use this form when stating that you will take care of an action.

Grammar Points

V-기 전에

시작하기 전에

shee-JAH-gee juh-NEH

before starting

The pattern -기 전에 means “before doing something” and follows a verb stem.

-ㄹ게요

사 올게요

sah OHL-kkeh-yo

I’ll buy it and bring it.

The ending -ㄹ게요 expresses the speaker’s intention or promise to do something.

Korean Vocabulary

다 떨어지다 phrase
dah ttuhr-uh-JEE-dah to run out completely 다 떨어졌어요
대신 adv
deh-SHEEN instead
레시피 noun
reh-SHEE-pee recipe
시작하다 verb
shee-JAHK-hah-dah to start 시작하기
양파 noun
yang-PAH onion 양파는
어떤 det
uh-TTUHN what kind of; which
요리 noun
yo-REE cooking 요리를
있다 verb
ee-TTAH to have; to exist 있어요
재료 noun
jeh-RYOH ingredient
전에 adv
juh-NEH before
토마토 noun
toh-MAH-toh tomato 토마토는
필요하다 adj
pee-RYOH-hah-dah to be needed 필요해요

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Before we start cooking, what ingredients do we have?

Show Answer요리를 시작하기 전에, 어떤 재료가 있어요?

The recipe needs onions and tomatoes.

Show Answer레시피에는 양파와 토마토가 필요해요.

We have tomatoes, but we're out of onions.

Show Answer토마토는 있지만, 양파는 다 떨어졌어요.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to start

Show Answer시작하기

tomato

Show Answer토마토는

to be needed

Show Answer필요해요

cooking

Show Answer요리를