요리
yori[joɾi]
The Korean word for 'dish' is 요리 (yori).
The word 요리 refers to both the act of cooking and a prepared dish itself.
Which one should you use?
While 요리 specifically refers to a prepared dish or the art of cooking, the term 음식 is used as a more general word for any kind of food.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is [yori].
Did you know?
- The word 요리 is used in the phrase 요리조리, which has nothing to do with food and instead describes dodging or weaving through a crowd.
- While 요리 refers to the prepared dish, the word 손맛, meaning 'hand taste', is often used to describe the secret, intuitive skill a cook adds to a dish.
- In traditional Korean dining, the 'dish' is not just the food but includes the harmony of five colors, known as 오방색, which represents the five elements.
Examples in context
- 이 음식이 무엇인가요?What is this dish?
- 이 요리는 너무 맛있어요!This dish is delicious!
- 이 음식은 정말 맛있어!This dish is really tasty!
- 이 음식이 어때요?How is this dish?
- 이 음식을 처음 먹어봤어요. 맛있을까요?I'm trying this dish for the first time. Is it delicious?
- 이 음식은 어떻게 하실까요?How would you like this dish prepared?
- 이 요리는 어떻게 드시겠어요?How would you like to eat this dish?
- 이 요리는 매운 편이에요?Is this dish spicy?
- 이 요리는 정말 맛있어요.i yori-neun jeongmal masisseoyo.This dish is really delicious.
- 매운 요리를 좋아하세요?maeun yori-reul joahaseyo?Do you like spicy dishes?
- 새로운 요리를 배우고 싶어요.saeroun yori-reul baeugo sipeoyo.I want to learn new dishes.
Example conversation
Minji and Dohyun are at a restaurant looking at the menu.
- 민지 Min-ji도현 씨, 어떤 요리를 주문할까요?Dohyun ssi, eotteon yorireul jumunhalkkayo?Dohyun, which dish shall we order?
- 도현 Do-hyeon이 요리가 여기에서 제일 유명해요.i yorigga yeogieseo jeil yumyeonghaeyo.This dish is the most famous one here.
- 민지 Min-ji좋아요. 그걸로 주문해요.joayo. geugeollo jumunhaeyo.Great. Let's order that.
- 도현 Do-hyeon네, 제가 주문할게요.ne, jega jumunhalkeyo.Okay, I will order it.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 요리, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
