요리사
yorisa[joɾisʰa̠]
The English phrase 'cook' can be translated into Korean as 요리사 (yorisa).
The word 요리사 refers to a person who prepares food. Related terms include 요리 스킬 for cooking skills and 요리 재료 for cooking ingredients.
Meaning: to prepare food for eating (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 요리사 is the general term for a cook, 요리하다 is the actual verb meaning 'to cook'. In more formal or technical contexts, such as professional certifications or official job titles, the term 조리사 is often used instead of 요리사.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun 요리사 does not change its form to indicate plurality. The context of the sentence determines if you are referring to one cook or multiple cooks.
How do you pronounce it?
yorisa
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistake the noun for the verb. In Korean, 요리사 refers specifically to the person (the cook) rather than the action of cooking.
Did you know?
- In a home setting, a spouse or parent who cooks is rarely called a 요리사, as that term implies a professional license or career.
- The suffix 사 in 요리사 is the same character used for highly respected professionals like 의사 'doctor' and 변호사 'lawyer'.
- While 요리사 describes a chef, the verb 요리하다 is often replaced in casual speech by 음식 하다, which literally means 'to do food'.
Examples in context
- 톰은 실력이 좋은 요리사다.Tom is a very good cook.This sentence is useful for describing someone's profession using 요리사.Tatoeba #11106203 by intertime, translation #4081904 by CK
- 저는 음식을 요리합니다.I cook food.
- 식당에서 조리사로 일합니다.I work as a cook in a restaurant.
- 오늘은 내가 저녁을 요리해.I will cook dinner today.
- 너 음식 해본 적 있어?Have you ever cooked before?
Example conversation
Hyunwoo and Seoyeon are talking about their hobbies.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo서연 씨는 요리하는 것을 좋아해요?Seoyeon ssineun yorihaneun geoseul joahae-yo?Seoyeon, do you like cooking?
- 서연 Seo-yeon네, 저는 나중에 요리사가 되고 싶어요.ne, jeoneun najunge yorisaga doego sipeoyo.Yes, I want to be a cook later.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo정말요? 어떤 음식을 제일 잘해요?jeongmallyo? eotteon eumsigeul jeil jalhaeyo?Really? What food are you best at?
- 서연 Seo-yeon파스타를 아주 맛있게 만들 수 있어요.pasteureul aju masitge mandeul su isseoyo.I can make pasta very deliciously.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 요리사, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
