Day 159 — Are you good at cooking? | Korean Blueprint
Daily Korean
Today’s Phrase
요리 잘 해요?
yo·ri jal hae·yo
yori jal haeyo?
Are you good at cooking?
Cultural Insight

Cooking is a social act in Korea. 집밥 (home-cooked meal) is deeply valued — often considered more meaningful than restaurant food. Parents cooking for children, couples cooking together, or friends sharing recipes are all ways cooking expresses love and care in Korean culture.

Phrase Breakdown

요리
yori
cooking, cuisine
From Chinese 料理 (liàolǐ)
잘 해요?
jal haeyo?
do you do well?
잘 (well) + 하다 (do) → 잘 해요? (polite question)

Asks about someone’s cooking ability — a common social question in Korea.

Example Phrases

요리 잘 해요? 저한테 뭔가 만들어 줄 수 있어요?
Yori jal haeyo? Jeohante mwonga mandeoreo jul su isseoyo?
Are you good at cooking? Can you make me something?
만들어 주다 = to make for someone.
저는 요리를 잘 못 해요.
Jeoneun yorireul jal mot haeyo.
I’m not good at cooking.
잘 못 하다 = to not do well.
무슨 요리를 제일 잘 해요?
Museun yorireul jeil jal haeyo?
What dish are you best at cooking?
제일 = the most/best.

Related Phrases

같이 요리할까요?
gachi yorihalkkayo?
Shall we cook together?
Suggesting a joint cooking activity.
레시피 알려 주세요
lesipi allyeo juseyo
Please share the recipe
Asking for a cooking recipe.
이거 직접 만들었어요?
igeo jikjeop mandeureosseoyo?
Did you make this yourself?
Asking if a dish was homemade.
Quick Review
내가 틀렸어요

Can you recall what this means?

naega teullyeosseoyo
I was wrong