Korean: Say 'I am making ___' and Describe the Dish You're Cooking
Learn to say what dish you are making in Korean with the -고 있어요 pattern, then describe it with simple taste, ingredient and appearance words.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In Korean, when you want to say what you are making right now, you combine a dish name with the verb 만들다 (mandeulda, 'to make') in the present progressive: 만들고 있어요 (mandeulgo isseoyo). This lesson keeps the focus on the dish itself, not on chopping, frying or other cooking actions. You will learn to name a dish, say you are making it, and add one or two simple descriptions such as 'it is spicy' or 'it has vegetables'. All patterns are polite informal speech (해요체, haeyo-che), the safe default with strangers, neighbors and most everyday situations.
By the end, you can…
- say which dish I am making right now using 만들고 있어요.
- describe a dish with simple words for taste, ingredients and appearance.
- ask and answer what someone is making in a short polite exchange.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
저는 김치찌개를 만들고 있어요.
I am making kimchi stew.
jeo-neun gimchi-jjigae-reul man-deul-go i-sseo-yo
The basic pattern: dish + 를/을 + 만들고 있어요. Use 를 after a vowel-final noun and 을 after a consonant-final noun.
오늘은 불고기를 만들어요.
Today, I'm making bulgogi.
o-neu-reun bul-go-gi-reul man-deu-reo-yo
Simple present form. Korean often uses this for a plan or routine rather than the -고 있어요 progressive.
이 음식은 매워요.
This dish is spicy.
i eum-si-geun mae-wo-yo
Describes the dish itself. 이 means 'this'; 음식 means 'food' or 'dish'.
야채가 많이 들어 있어요.
It has a lot of vegetables in it.
ya-chae-ga ma-ni deu-reo i-sseo-yo
Literally 'vegetables are entered a lot'. A natural way to list what is inside a dish.
맛이 어때요?
How does it taste?
ma-si eo-ttae-yo
A common question when someone is cooking or when food is served. Answer with an adjective plus -요.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is [dish] + 를/을 + 만들고 있어요. For example, 김치찌개를 만들고 있어요 (I am making kimchi stew) and 비빔밥을 만들고 있어요 (I am making bibimbap). The object particle 를 comes after a vowel and 을 after a consonant: 김밥을 만들고 있어요 (I am making gimbap). To describe the dish, add a short sentence: 이 음식은 매워요 (this dish is spicy) or 국물이 시원해요 (the broth is refreshing). You can also say 재료가 뭐예요? (what are the ingredients?) and answer with a noun plus 들어 있어요.
When to use it
Use 만들고 있어요 when the cooking is happening now or around now, for example 친구가 김치찌개를 만들고 있어요 (my friend is making kimchi stew). Use the plain present 만들어요 for a plan, a habit or a menu announcement: 오늘은 불고기를 만들어요 (today I am making bulgogi). When you describe the dish, keep it simple: 매워요 (spicy), 짜요 (salty), 달아요 (sweet), or 야채가 많이 들어 있어요 (it has a lot of vegetables). These short sentences are enough for everyday conversation.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
지금 뭐 만들고 있어요?
What are you making now?ji-geum mwo man-deul-go i-sseo-yo?저는 김치찌개를 만들고 있어요.
I am making kimchi stew.jeo-neun gimchi-jjigae-reul man-deul-go i-sseo-yo.맛이 어때요?
How does it taste?ma-si eo-ttae-yo?매워요. 그리고 돼지고기가 많이 들어 있어요.
It is spicy. And it has a lot of pork in it.mae-wo-yo. geu-ri-go dwae-ji-go-gi-ga ma-ni deu-reo i-sseo-yo.A little context goes a long way
해요체 (haeyo-che) is the polite informal style and is safe with most adults you do not know well. With close friends, you can drop to 반말 (banmal): 뭐 만들어? (mwo mandeureo?). When talking about a dish you cooked for others, a modest phrase like 별거 아니에요 (byeolgeo anieyo, 'it's nothing special') is common before serving.
One thing to watch for
저는 김치찌개 만들고 있어요.
Try this instead: Include the object particle: 저는 김치찌개를 만들고 있어요. Korean marks the object with 를 or 을, so 김치찌개를 and 김밥을 are the natural forms.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I am making bibimbap' in polite Korean?
Show a sample answer
저는 비빔밥을 만들고 있어요.
비빔밥 ends in a consonant, so it takes 을, and 만들고 있어요 shows the action is happening now. 저는 can be omitted if the subject is clear.
2Which particle fits in 'I am making gimbap': 김밥__ 만들고 있어요?
Show a sample answer
김밥을 만들고 있어요.
밥 ends in a consonant (ㅂ), so the object particle is 을. Use 를 after a vowel-final noun, as in 김치찌개를.
3How would you say 'It is spicy' about a dish?
Show a sample answer
매워요.
매워요 is the polite form of 'spicy'. You can also say 이 음식은 매워요 for 'this dish is spicy'. Other valid descriptions include 짜요 (salty) and 달아요 (sweet).
Name the dish, add 를 or 을, then 만들고 있어요. Finish with one short description such as 매워요 or 야채가 많이 들어 있어요.
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