コーヒーを淹れる
kōhī o ireru
To make coffee in Japanese is コーヒーを淹れる (kōhī o ireru).
The phrase is used to describe the specific process of preparing coffee by pouring hot water through coffee grounds. While you can say コーヒーを作る (kōhī o tsukuru) to express the general idea of making coffee, コーヒーを淹れる is the more precise and natural way to describe the brewing process.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb 淹れる (ireru) literally means to pour or to brew, and is specifically used when referring to the preparation of tea or coffee.
Which one should you use?
コーヒーを淹れる (kōhī o ireru) is the standard way to describe the brewing process. In contrast, コーヒーを作る (kōhī o tsukuru) is a more general expression for making coffee that can be used, but it lacks the specific nuance of brewing with hot water.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use the polite form, use コーヒーを淹れます (kōhī o iremasu).
How do you pronounce it?
kōhī o ireru
Did you know?
- If you accidentally use the kanji 入れる instead of 淹れる, you are no longer 'brewing' the coffee but simply 'putting' it into a container.
- The phrase コーヒーを淹れる is the linguistic heart of the 'kissaten' culture, where the 'master' treats the brewing process as a meditative craft rather than a quick service.
- Because コーヒー is a loanword and 淹れる is indigenous, the phrase is a hybrid of Western influence and traditional Japanese linguistics.
Examples in context
- コーヒーを淹れるにも練習が必要よ。To make coffee also requires practice.This sentence uses コーヒーを淹れる to show that brewing coffee requires practice.Tatoeba #10367321 by small_snow, translation #10372828 by terrywallwork
- 毎朝、自分でコーヒーを淹れる。Maiasa, jibun de kōhī o ireru.I make coffee by myself every morning.
- 丁寧にコーヒーを淹れるのが好きです。Teinei ni kōhī o ireru no ga suki desu.I like to carefully make coffee.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are at home in the morning.
- 蓮 Ren結衣、コーヒーを淹れる？Yui, kōhī o ireru?Yui, will you make coffee?
- 結衣 Yuiいいよ。蓮の分も淹れるね。Ii yo. Ren no bun mo ireru ne.Sure. I will make some for Ren too.
- 蓮 Renありがとう。楽しみにしてるよ。Arigatō. Tanoshimi ni shiteru yo.Thanks. I'm looking forward to it.
- 結衣 Yuiすぐ淹れるから、待ってて。Sugu ireru kara, mattete.I'll make it right away, so wait a moment.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
