Japanese Cooking Terms Quiz – How Much Do You Really Know?
Japanese diners say itadakimasu before eating, a word of thanks for the food and everyone who made it, and this Japanese cooking terms quiz explains the vocabulary of the kitchen. Learn umami, dashi, agemono, nimono, yakimono and why Japanese chefs talk about shun, the peak season of ingredients.
Start Japanese Cooking Terms Quiz
🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds
Itadakimasu
When do people say itadakimasu?
Umami
What does umami describe?
Dashi
What is dashi?
Agemono
What are agemono?
Nimono
What are nimono?
Yakimono
What are yakimono?
Shun
What does shun mean in Japanese cooking?
Ichiju sansai
What is ichiju sansai?
Mirin
What is mirin?
Omakase
What does omakase mean?
Your score
0/10
Scroll down to see the explanation for each question.
Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions
- Q1: When do people say itadakimasu?
Answer: Before eating
Gochisosama is said after.
- Q2: What does umami describe?
Answer: A savory, meaty taste
It is the fifth basic taste.
- Q3: What is dashi?
Answer: A soup stock
It is made from kombu and bonito.
- Q4: What are agemono?
Answer: Deep-fried dishes
Tempura is an example.
- Q5: What are nimono?
Answer: Simmered dishes
They cook in seasoned broth.
- Q6: What are yakimono?
Answer: Grilled dishes
Yakitori is one.
- Q7: What does shun mean in Japanese cooking?
Answer: The peak season of an ingredient
Chefs plan menus around it.
- Q8: What is ichiju sansai?
Answer: One soup and three dishes
It is a balanced meal structure.
- Q9: What is mirin?
Answer: A sweet rice wine for cooking
It adds gloss and sweetness.
- Q10: What does omakase mean?
Answer: I leave it to you
The chef chooses the meal.
Japanese Cooking Terms Quiz – The Language of Japanese Food
Japanese cooking has a rich vocabulary that reflects respect for ingredients and the people who prepare them. Diners say itadakimasu before eating and gochisosama after, thanking those involved in the meal.
Dishes are often classified by cooking method: agemono are fried, nimono simmered, yakimono grilled and mushimono steamed. Dashi stock and seasonings like soy sauce, mirin and miso create the savory taste called umami, identified by Kikunae Ikeda.
Meals often follow ichiju sansai, one soup and three dishes with rice. Chefs value shun, the peak season of ingredients, and omakase lets the chef choose the menu. Learning these terms helps diners appreciate Japanese cuisine.
What This Quiz Teaches
Food lovers and language learners will enjoy these questions.
- What itadakimasu means
- What umami is
- How dishes are classified
- What shun means
- What omakase means
Did You Know?
- Sashimi means pierced body.
- Washoku means Japanese food.
- Gohan means rice or meal.
- Okazu are side dishes.
- Kaiseki follows seasons.
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