When someone cooks for you in Japanese, a warm compliment and a word of thanks go a long way. In this workshop you will practice a short exchange between a guest and a host: the guest praises the food and thanks the host, and the host responds modestly and offers to cook again. You will hear each recorded line, learn what it means in English, then use it in guided speaking tasks. You can play both roles with the audio, but there is no automatic assessment, so check your answers against the keys provided.
Praising the food
Start with a simple compliment. «これ、おいしいです。» means "This is delicious." If you want to sound a little stronger, use «とてもおいしいです。», which means "It's very delicious." You can also praise the person directly with «料理がじょうずですね。», meaning "You're a good cook." Finally, show appreciation for the effort with «作ってくれてありがとうございます。», which means "Thank you for making this for me." These four lines are the guest's main tools. Say them clearly and with a smile; in Japanese, a sincere tone matters as much as the words. Practice each line aloud once before moving to the next section.
A full exchange
Now put the lines together. The guest says «これ、とてもおいしいです。料理がじょうずですね。», which means "This is very delicious. You're a good cook." The host replies with «ありがとうございます。でも、まだまだです。», meaning "Thank you. But I'm still not good enough." This is a modest response, not a rejection of the compliment. The guest then insists warmly with «いいえ、本当においしいです。作ってくれてありがとうございます。»: "No, it's really delicious. Thank you for making it for me." The host closes with «どういたしまして。よかったら、また作りますね。», meaning "You're welcome. If you like, I'll make it again." Notice the order: compliment, modest reply, warm insistence, closing offer. Keep that order when you practice, even if you swap roles.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
これ、おいしいです。
This is delicious.
Kore, oishii desu.
とてもおいしいです。
It's very delicious.
Totemo oishii desu.
料理がじょうずですね。
You're a good cook.
Ryōri ga jōzu desu ne.
作ってくれてありがとうございます。
Thank you for making this for me.
Tsukutte kurete arigatō gozaimasu.
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
これ、とてもおいしいです。料理がじょうずですね。
This is very delicious. You're a good cook.ありがとうございます。でも、まだまだです。
Thank you. But I'm still not good enough.いいえ、本当においしいです。作ってくれてありがとうございます。
No, it's really delicious. Thank you for making it for me.どういたしまして。よかったら、また作りますね。
You're welcome. If you like, I'll make it again.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided compliment exchange
You are the guest at a friend's home. Your friend has just served you a dish. Use the recorded lines to give a compliment and thanks.
Your task: Read your part aloud as the guest. First say the line for "This is very delicious. You're a good cook." Then, after your partner's modest reply, say the line for "No, it's really delicious. Thank you for making it for me." If you are practicing alone, play the host's recorded lines from the audio between your lines.
Choose the right reply
You are the host. Your guest has just said the line for "This is very delicious. You're a good cook." You want to respond modestly and thank them.
Your task: Which recorded line fits best? Option A: the line for "Thank you. But I'm still not good enough." Option B: the line for "You're welcome. If you like, I'll make it again." Say your chosen line aloud, then check the answer key below.
Recall the exchange from memory
You have practiced both roles. Now cover the lines and recall the exchange in order, using the recorded lines as your model.
Your task: As the guest, say the compliment line from memory. Then, as the host, say the modest reply. Then, as the guest, say the warm insistence. Finally, as the host, say the closing offer. If you are unsure, listen to the audio again and repeat.
Common questions
Do I need to use all the recorded lines in one conversation?
No. The lines are tools you can choose from. A short exchange can use just a compliment and a modest reply, while a fuller exchange adds the warm insistence and the closing offer. Practice the full set so you can pick what fits the moment.
What if I am the host and my guest compliments my cooking?
Use the host's lines. A modest reply such as the line for "Thank you. But I'm still not good enough." is common, and you can close with the line for "You're welcome. If you like, I'll make it again." Keep the same order: reply first, then close after your guest's follow-up.
Sources and further reading
- japanese: compliment someones cookingChecked September 2026
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