요리하고 있어요
yorihago isseoyo
To say I am cooking in Korean, use 요리하고 있어요 (yorihago isseoyo).
요리하고 있어요 tells someone that you are busy preparing food right now. A common alternative is 음식을 만들고 있어요, literally I am making food.
What does it mean word for word?
요리 means cooking or cuisine. It is followed by the verb 하다, to do, in the form 하고 and then 있어요, which makes the action ongoing. Literally it is am doing cooking.
Which one should you use?
Another pattern uses 중, meaning in the middle of, as in 난 요리 중이야. or the formal 제가 요리 중입니다. 지금 저는 조리 중입니다. uses a more formal word for cooking.
How do you pronounce it?
It is romanized as yorihago isseoyo.
Did you know?
- In a household setting, you might hear 밥 해 (making rice) instead of 요리해 (cooking), as 밥 can mean both 'rice' and 'a whole meal'.
- If you are cooking for someone else, you might use the word 대접하다, which means to treat or entertain a guest with food, rather than just stating you are cooking.
- While 요리하고 있어요 is a standard way to state your action, Korean speakers often omit the subject 'I' (저 or 나) entirely if it is obvious from the context. Simply saying 요리하고 있어요 is much more natural in a real conversation.
Examples in context
- 제가 요리 중입니다. 불고기를 만들고 있어요.I am cooking. I am making bulgogi.
- 지금 요리하고 있어요.jigeum yori-hago isseoyo.I am cooking right now.
- 주방에서 요리하고 있어요.jubang-eseo yori-hago isseoyo.I am cooking in the kitchen.
- 저녁을 요리하고 있어요.jeonyeok-eul yori-hago isseoyo.I am cooking dinner.
Example conversation
Hyunwoo answers the phone while preparing a meal.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo지금 뭐 해요?jigeum mwo haeyo?What are you doing right now?
- 지은 Ji-eun저 지금 요리하고 있어요.jeo jigeum yorihago isseoyo.I am cooking right now.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo무슨 음식을 만들어요?museun eumsigeul mandeureoyo?What food are you making?
- 지은 Ji-eun맛있는 파스타를 만들고 있어요.masinneun pasutareul mandeulgo isseoyo.I am making delicious pasta.
