Korean Food & Cooking Vocabulary Reference

조리사

a cook (요리사 is more common, see Cooking Verbs footnotes)

요리사

a chef

요리

cooking

요리법

recipe

요리책

cookbook

음식

food

중식

Chinese food

일식

Japanese food

한식

Korean food

양식

Western food

밥

cooked rice, meal

식사

meal

진지

meal (honorific)

아침 식사, 조식

breakfast

점심, 중식

lunch

저녁 (식사), 석식

dinner

식용

edible

반찬

side dishes

과자

snack

안주

food/snacks/appetizers served with alcohol

사과

apple

아보카도

avocado

바나나

banana

체리

cherry

곶감

dried persimmon

과일

fruit

포도

grape

자몽

grapefruit

단감

hard persimmon

재추

jujube, Chinese date

키위

kiwi fruit

레몬

lemon

귤

mandarin orange, tangerine

망고

mango

멜론, 참위

melon

오렌지

orange

복숭아

peach

배

pear

감

persimmon

파인애플

pineapple

자두

plum

석류

pomegranate

건포도

raisin

홍시

soft, mellow persimmon

딸기

strawberry

수박

watermelon

콩

bean

미역

brown seaweed

양배추

cabbage

옥수수

corn, maize

오이

cucumber

가지

eggplant

마늘

garlic

마늘쫑

garlic stems

파

green/spring onion

강낭콩

kidney bean

배주

Korean cabbage

상추, 양상치

lettuce

양파

onion

완두콩

pea

감자

potato

팥

red bean

깻잎

sesame leaf

시금치

spinach

고구마

sweet potato

토마토

tomato

야채, 채소

vegetables

무우

white radish

애호박

zucchini

브로콜리

broccoli

당근

carrot

호박

pumpkin, squash

음료, 음료수

beverages, drinks

물

water

우유

milk

커피

coffee

콜라

cola

주스

juice

오렌지 주스

orange juice

탄산음료

soft drinks

차

tea

홍차

black tea

유자차

citron Tea

인삼차

ginseng tea

녹차

green tea

매실차

asian Apricot Tea

보리차

roasted barley tea

옥수수차

roasted corn tea

술

alcohol

맥주

beer

칵테일

cocktail

막걸리

rice wine

소주

traditional Korean vodka

양주

western liquors

와인

wine

베이컨

bacon

소고기

beef

닭가슴살

Chicken breast

닭고기

chicken (meat)

양고기

lamb/mutton

고기

meat

돼지 고기

pork

갈비

rib

등심

sirloin

안심

tenderloin

전복

abalone

조개

clam

게

crab

가재

crayfish

장어

eel

생선

fish (cooked for eating)

물고기

live fish in the ocean

랍스터

lobster

고등어

mackerel

홍합

mussels

낙지, 문어

octopus

굴

oyster

새우

prawn, shrimp

회

raw fish, sashimi

연어

salmon

파

scallion

해산물

seafood

오징어

squid, cuttlefish

참치

tuna

도토리

acorn

아몬드

almond

밤

chestnut

땅콩

peanut

호두

walnut

버터

butter

달걀/계란

egg

치즈

cheese

박력분

cake/pastry flour

고추

chili pepper, chili

식용유

cooking oil

부스러기

crumbs

흰자

egg white

노른자

egg yolk

어목

fishcake

생크림

fresh cream

버섯

mushroom

면

noodle

깻잎

perilla leaf

떡

rice cake

수프, 국, 탕

soup

떡볶이

spicy rice cake

보리

barley

밀

wheat

설탕

sugar

양념

spices, seasonings

올리브오일/ 올리브유

olive oil

중력분

all-purpose flour

강력분

bread flour

밀가루

flour

성분

ingredient, component

재료

ingredients, material

쌀

uncooked rice

식초

vinegar

파프리카

capsicum, pepper

고수

cilantro

후추

black pepper

꿀

honey

케첩

ketchup

마요네즈

mayonnaise

겨자

mustard

고추장

red pepper paste

고추가루

red pepper powder

소금

salt

참기름

sesame oil

된장

soybean paste

간장

soy sauce

사발

bowl

젓가락

chopsticks

조리용 소쿠리

colander

컵

cup

디저트 포크

dessert fork

포크

fork

얼음통

ice bucket

얼음집게

ice tongs

칼

knife, chef’s knife

얕은 냄비

pan

접시

plate

평평한접시

plate

밥그릇

rice bowl

샐러드 포크

salad fork

받침접시

saucer

숟가락

spoon

수저

spoon and chopsticks

수저통

spoon bag

맥주잔

stein

식기류

tableware

정찬용 식기

tableware/ dinner set

그램

a gram

앞치마

apron

톱칼

bandsaw

깡통따개

can opener

구멍뚫린 조미료통

caster

타래 송곳

corkscrew

식기실

cupboard

도마

cutting (chopping) board

후라이팬, 프라이팬

frying pan

유리

glass

쥬서기

juicer

주전자

kettle

식칼

kitchen knife (cleaver, butcher knife)

행주

kitchen towel

주걱

ladle

레몬즙기

lemon squeezer

계량컵

measuring cup

큰접시

platter

냄비

pot

밥솥

rice cooker

밀대

rolling pin

고무장갑

rubber gloves

소스냄비

sauce pan

저울

scale

국자

soup ladle

뒤집개

spatula

수세미

steel wool / scrubbing pad

체

strainer

계량

weighing, measuring

교반기

whisk, egg beater

믹서기

blender

식기세척기

dishwasher

냉동고

freezer

냉장고

fridge

가스렌지

gas stove

그릴

grill

부엌, 주방

kitchen

전자 레인지

microwave

오븐

oven

식기

pantry

커피끓이개

percolator

토스터

toaster

잘게 썰다

cut into small pieces

얇게 썰다

cut into thin slices

굽다

roast, grill, barbecue, bake, toast

양념하다

season, add flavor

간을하다

to add salt

바르다

to baste or apply

데치다

to blanch, parboil

삶다

to boil

끓이다

to boil

물을 꿇이다

to boil water

요리하다

to cook *

조리하다

to cook *

익히다

to cook thoroughly (all the way through)

식히다

to cool down

깨다

to crack

썰다

to cut, chop (up), slice (up), dice (up), cube

자르다

to cut, slice

채우다

to fill

뒤집다

to flip over

튀기다

to fry

갈다

to grind

데우다

to heat up

반죽하다

to knead

반족(하다)

(to make) batter or dough

재우다

to marinate, lay down and marinate

으깨다

to mash

녹다

to melt

다지다

to mince

섞다

to mix and blend

무치다

to mix, season, stir

비비다

to mix, twist, rub

부치다

to pan fry (cook in a shallow pan with just a bit of oil)

깍다

to peel with a knife, shave

껍질을 까다

to peel with ones hands (like an orange)

붓다, 따르다

to pour

넣다

to put in, add

놓다

to put on

조리다

to reduce (boil until there is little water left in a sauce)

(기름에) 볶다

to saute, fry (in oil)

뿌리다

to spray or sprinkle

부리다

to sprinkle

찌다

to steam

볶다

to stir fry

젓다

to stir (liquid)

맛을 보다, 맛보다

to taste

건을 보다

to taste (to see if food is too salty / bland)

손질하다

to trim (meats)

다듬다

to trim (vegetables, like cut the ends of spring onion)

계량하다

to weigh, measure

썩다 (past tense)

to be rotten

짭짤하다

to be a little salty

끓다

to boil/be boiling

쓰다

to be bitter

싱겁다

to be bland

차갑다

to be cold

얼큰하다

to be cold (used for broth)

뜨거워지다

to become hot

기름지다

to be fatty, greasy, or oily

구수하다

to be fermented and stinky

신선하다

to be fresh

볶이다

to be fried, roasted, parbroiled

새럽다

to be new and fresh

고소하다

to be nutty

느끼하다

to be oily and greasy

말랑하다

to be soft, tender, and ripe

부드럽다

to be soft to the touch

시큼하다

to be sour

달콤하다

to be sweet

상하다

to go bad, spoil, sour, rotten, become stale

맛

taste

떫은 맛

puckery taste

쓴 맛

bitter taste

짠 맛

salty taste

신 맛

sour taste

얼큰한 맛

spicy, hot taste

매운 맛

spicy taste

단 맛

sweet taste

떫다

bitter, sour, rough-tasting

새콤하다

to be a bit sour and fresh

얼큰하다

to be a bit spicy enough to feel tingly in one’s mouth

쓰다

to be bitter (coffee)

씁쓸하다

to be bitterish, a bit bitter (dark chocolate)

쌉쌀하다

to be bitterish, slightly bitter

싱겁다

to be bland, flat, not salty enough

진짜 맛있다

to be delicious

구수하다

to be earthy-smelling / tasting (된장찌개)

비리다

to be fishy, smell fishy

맵다

to be hot, spicy

담백하다

to be light, clean, plain

맛없다

to be not good (literally: lacking taste)

매콤하다

to be pleasantly hot, spicy (떡볶이)

달짝지근하다

to be rather sweet, sweetish

시원하다, 개운하다

to be refreshing

짭조름하다

to be salty (good feeling)

짭잘하다

to be savory, salty (pringles)

시큼하다

to be somewhat sour, tart, acidic

시다

to be sour, tart, acidic, vinegary

달다

to be sweet

상큼하다

to be sweet and cool, refreshing (lemonade / orange juice)

달콤하다

to be sweet (chocolate)

달달하다

to be sweet (sugared water, etc)

칼칼하다

to be thirsty, dry, parched

느끼하다

to be too fatty, greasy, oily, rich, nauseating

짜다

to be too salty

고소하다

to have a nutty flavor (smell or taste of roasted sesame / newly-baked bread)

맛있다

to taste good, be tasty (literally: to have taste)

입맛

appetite

계산서

bill or check

대리 운전

designated driving

음주

drinking

술자리

drinking party/event, banquet

음주운전

drunk driving

포장마차

food cart with seating

차림표, 메뉴

menu

해장

something to relieve a hangover (food or drink)

배달하다

to deliver

건배

cheers, a toast

음주(하다)

drinking, to have a drink.

씹다

to chew

나눠서 내다

to divide the check (3+ people)

장을 보다

to do grocery shopping

마시다

to drink

먹다

to eat (can be used drinks like 소주 as well)

들다

to eat (honorific)

드시다

to eat (honorific)

식사하다

to have a meal

예약하다

to make a reservation

따다

to open (a bottle, etc)

주문하다

to order food

붓다

to pour

따르다

to pour

(저녁을) 굶다

to skip a meal, to starve

반반 씩 내다

to split in half / go dutch (2 people)

맛을 보다

to taste

건을 보다

to taste (to see if food is too salty / bland)

알딸딸하다

slang for being buzzed or tipsy

아깝다

to be a waste (used when there are leftovers)

배 부르다

to be full

배고프다

to be hungry

목이 마르다

to be thirsty

얼큰하다

to be tipsy, drunk

(~에) 취하다

to get drunk

김치

Kimchi, made by salting vegetables such as napa cabbages, white radishes, etc., and seasoning and fermenting them.

겉절이

Fresh Kimchi

깍두기

Kimchi made of salt-pickled radish chopped in small cubes mixed with seasonings such as red pepper powder, etc.

나박김치

Chilled Water Kimchi, made by cutting slices of radishes in square shapes, salting them, adding chopped vegetables and spices, and finally soaking all these ingredients in seasoned water.

배추김치

Kimchi made with napa cabbages.

백김치

White Kimchi, made without chili pepper.

보쌈김치

Wrapped Kimchi, made by seasoning radishes, vegetables, etc., sliced in fixed sizes, and wrapping them with a large napa cabbage leaf.

오이소박이

Cucumber Kimchi, made by cutting cucumbers twice lengthwise, leaving one end uncut, and then stuffing them with chopped chives and onions seasoned with chopped scallions, minced garlic, red pepper, etc.

두부김치

Tofu with Stir-Fried Kimchi

밥

Cooked White Rice

콩밥

Rice with beans

김밥

Dried Seaweed Rolls, made by rolling rice and various other ingredients in dried laver seaweed and cutting them into bite-size slices.

김치볶음밥

Kimchi fried rice, made by stir-frying chopped kimchi, meat, vegetables, etc., with rice.

돌솥비빔밥

Stone Pot Bibimbap. Bibimbap served in a sizziling-hot earthenware bowl.

불고기덮밥

Bulgogi with Rice

비빔밥

Rice topped with sliced meat, mushrooms, eggs, seasoned vegetables, some seasonings, etc., of which all the ingredients are stirred before eating.

산채비빔밥

Mountain Vegetable Bibimbap

쌈밥

Leaf wraps and rice, eaten after wrapping rice, several side dishes, and ssamjang, condiments, on a leaf of lettuce, sesame, etc.

영양돌솥밥

Nutritious Stone Pot Rice

오징어덮밥

Spicy Sautéed Squid with Rice

콩나물국밥

Bean Sprout Soup with Rice

볶음

Stir-fried dish

낙지볶음

Stir-Fried Octopus

오징어볶음

Stir-Fried Squid

제육볶음

Stir-Fried Pork

죽

Porridge

잣죽

Pine Nut Porridge

전복죽

Rice Porridge with Abalone

호박죽

Pumpkin Porridge

흑임자죽

Black Sesame and Rice Porridge

찌개

Korean stew made by putting tofu, vegetables, etc., in a small amount of broth with soybean or red pepper paste, and then boiling it with some spices or seasonings to taste a little salty.

김치찌개

Kimchi Stew

된장찌개

Soybean Paste Stew

부대찌개

Spicy Sausage Stew

순두부찌개

Spicy Soft Tofu Stew

청국장찌개

Rich Soybean Paste Stew

해물순두부찌개

Seafood Soft Tofu Stew

탕

Soup

삼계탕

Ginseng Chicken Soup

보신탕

Dog soup

갈비탕

Short Rib Soup

감자탕

Pork-on-the-Bone Soup with Potatoes

곰탕

Thick Beef Bone Soup

매운탕

Spicy Fish Soup

설렁탕

Ox Bone Soup

우거지갈비탕

Cabbage and Short Rib Soup

육개장

Spicy Beef Soup

해물탕

Spicy Seafood Soup

국

Soup

떡국

Sliced Rice Cake Soup

미역국

Seaweed Soup

된장국

Soybean Paste Soup

떡만둣국

Rice cake and Mandu Soup

만둣국

Mandu Soup

북엇국

Dried Pollock Soup

전골

Hot Pot, food made by putting meat, mushroom, seafood, seasoning, etc., in a stew pot, adding broth, and boiling it.

곱창전골

Spicy Beef Tripe Hot Pot

국수전골

Noodles Hot Pot

두부전골

Tofu Hot Pot

만두전골

Mandu Hot Pot

불낙전골

Bulgogi and Octopus Hot Pot

신선로

Royal Hot Pot

찜 / 조림

Steamed, Braised dish

아귀찜

Spicy Angler Fish with Soybean Sprouts

해물찜

Braised Seafood

갈비찜

Braised Short Ribs

찜닭

Braised Chili Chicken

갈치조림

Braised Cutlassfish

고등어조림

Braised Mackerel

두부조림

Braised Pan-Fried Tofu

은대구조림

Braised Cod

국수 / 면

Noodles, made by kneading wheat flour, buckwheat, potatoes, etc. and cutting the dough into long thin strips with a knife, machine, or by hand, or a dish made by boiling this.

냉면

Cold noodles

물냉면

Chilled Buckwheat Noodle Soup

비빔냉면

Spicy Mixed Buckwheat Noodles

자장면

Black bean noodles

잡채

sweet potatoe noodles

신라면

Shin Ramen

비빔국수

Spicy Mixed Noodles

수제비

Sujebi (Korean Style Pasta Soup)

잔치국수

Banquet Noodles

쟁반국수

Jumbo Sized Buckwheat Noodles

칼국수

Noodle Soup

고기

Meat

삼겹살

pork belly meat: A fleshy part of a pork belly, featuring three layers of fat and flesh, grilled pork belly, a Korea dish made from the meat.

갈비

Ribs

불고기

Bulgogi

오삼고기

Combination of 오징어 and 삼겹살 meat

닭발

Chicken feet

물고기

fish

조기

yellow corvina (popular in Korea - the fish is fried whole)

고등어

mackerel (also fried whole)

참치

tuna

멸치

anchovy (popular side dish)

구이

Grilled

곱창구이

Grilled Beef Tripe

더덕구이

Grilled Deodeok

돼지갈비구이

Grilled Spareribs

생선구이

Grilled Fish

소갈비구이

Grilled Beef Ribs

오리구이

Grilled Duck

황태구이

Seasoned and Grilled Dried Pollock

채

Platter

잡채

Noodles with Sautéed Vegetables

탕평채

Mung Bean Jelly Mixed with Vegetables and Beef

해파리냉채

Jellyfish Platter

만두

dumpling

만두소

dumpling filling/stuffing

만두피

dumpling skin

군만두

fried dumpling

물만두

boiled dumpling

찐만두

steamed dumpling

순대

Korean blood sausage, made by steaming seasoned sweet potato, noodles, tofu, glutinous rice, etc. which are stuffed into a pig’s intestine

샌드위치

sandwhich

감자 튀김

french fries, chips

도넛

doughnut

피자

pizza

두부

tofu

파스타

pasta

라면

instant noodles (ramen)

쿠키

cookie

비스킷

biscuit

케이크

cake

아이스크림

ice cream