Hungry to Learn Korean? 20+ Culinary Words from Bon Appétit, Your Majesty

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What do you get when you mix a modern chef, a ruthless Joseon king, and a kitchen full of palace politics? Netflix’s Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, the genre-bending K-drama everyone’s binging right now. If you haven’t already fallen down this deliciously addictive rabbit hole, tonight’s the night to start your marathon.

With fiery banter, royal critiques, and even a sprinkle of French flair, this K-drama serves up gourmet entertainment while slipping Korean food terms into your vocabulary. To help you follow the feast, we’ve pulled together 20+ essential Korean food words you’ll hear along the way.

What Is Bon Appétit, Your Majesty?

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty is Netflix’s hit K-drama that mixes time travel, royal intrigue, and gourmet cooking into one irresistible story. It follows Yeon Ji-yeong, a modern French chef who is suddenly transported to the Joseon Dynasty during a solar eclipse.

Stranded in the past, she relies on her culinary skills to survive and quickly captures the attention of King Lee Heon, a feared ruler with a refined taste for food.

As Ji-yeong cooks her way deeper into palace life, she becomes entangled in power struggles, dangerous rivalries, and an unexpected romance with the king. The show balances the tension of court politics with the thrill of gourmet creativity, serving up a drama that is as addictive as it is mouthwatering.

Learn Korean Cooking Words with Bon Appétit, Your Majesty

Food is never just decoration in Bon Appétit, Your Majesty. It drives the story forward and shapes Ji-yeong’s place in the palace. Every moment in the royal kitchen introduces new ingredients, techniques, and critiques that add depth to the drama.

As you watch, you will start to recognize Korean culinary words that repeat throughout the series. The sections below break them down into ingredients, cooking terms, flavors, and other everyday kitchen language so you can follow the story with a sharper ear.

Ingredients In Korean

Early in the series, Ji-yeong opens baskets of vegetables and spices that look nothing like what she used in her sleek French kitchen. Watching her puzzle over ginseng roots and strange grains is half the fun. Knowing the Korean words for these ingredients also makes those moments of discovery even richer.

English Korean (Hangul) Romanization
Rice ssal
Soy sauce 간장 ganjang
Sesame oil 참기름 chamgireum
Garlic 마늘 maneul
Ginseng 인삼 insam
Cabbage 배추 baechu
Radish mu
Red chili pepper 고추 gochu
Green onion pa
Tofu 두부 dubu

Cooking Terms In Korean

When Ji-yeong demonstrates techniques the palace cooks have never seen, the kitchen often pauses in confusion before bursting into activity. Picking up the Korean terms she uses in those moments makes the action easier to follow and more engaging.

English Korean (Hangul) Romanization
Boil 끓이다 kkeulida
Grill 굽다 gupda
Steam 찌다 jjida
Fry 튀기다 twigida
Season 양념하다 yangnyeomhada
Stir 젓다 jeotda
Slice 썰다 sseolda
Mix 섞다 seokda
Knead 반죽하다 banjukhada
Taste 맛보다 matboda

Flavors And Textures In Korean

The king rarely eats in silence. He describes every dish in detail, whether he is impressed or disappointed, and the court listens closely. Understanding the Korean words he uses for flavors and textures lets you share in the suspense of every bite.

English Korean (Hangul) Romanization
Sweet 달다 dalda
Salty 짜다 jjada
Spicy 맵다 maepda
Sour 시다 sida
Bitter 쓰다 sseuda
Chewy 쫄깃하다 jjolgit-hada
Tender 부드럽다 budeureopda
Crunchy 바삭하다 basak-hada
Savory/Umami 감칠맛 gamchilmat
Fresh 신선하다 sinsunhada

Other Korean Kitchen Terms

The palace kitchen is always busy, from the sound of chopping to servants rushing with trays. Knowing some extra Korean terms for these everyday tasks helps bring that setting to life and makes the background details of each episode clearer.

English Korean (Hangul) Romanization
Kitchen 부엌 bueok
Knife kal
Pot 냄비 naembi
Pan paen
Spoon 숟가락 sutgarak
Chopsticks 젓가락 jeotgarak
Dish/Plate 접시 jeopsi
Bowl 그릇 geureut
Ladle 국자 gukja
Cutting board 도마 doma

How Culinary Words Can Boost Your Korean

Learning a language works best when the words you study connect to things you actually enjoy. If you love Bon Appétit, Your Majesty or just have an interest in food, culinary vocabulary is one of the easiest ways to build your Korean. These words show up often in daily life, whether you are cooking at home, ordering in a restaurant, or even just watching K-dramas. Because they repeat in so many contexts, you remember them faster and use them more naturally.

Culinary terms also cover a wide range of grammar without feeling overwhelming. Ingredients give you simple nouns. Cooking actions like “boil” or “slice” are verbs you can practice right away. Flavors and textures help you form descriptive sentences, which is essential for conversation. Even basic kitchen objects let you get comfortable with everyday vocabulary.

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Learn Korean With Lingopie

If Bon Appétit, Your Majesty has you hooked and inspired to pick up Korean, Lingopie is the perfect next step. The platform connects directly to your Netflix account, letting you watch the K-dramas you already love while learning the language in real time. Every line comes with dual subtitles you can click for instant translations, flashcards, and practice exercises, so learning feels natural and fun.

What makes Lingopie stand out is how seamlessly it blends entertainment with study. You are not forcing yourself to memorize random lists of words—you are absorbing the language while following the same stories, actors, and scenes that drew you in to begin with.

Whether you start with Bon Appétit, Your Majesty or dive into another favorite drama, Lingopie turns your Netflix binge into a language lesson that actually sticks. Give Lingopie a try now!

FAQ

Can watching this drama really help me learn Korean?

Yes, especially when it comes to everyday cooking words and short expressions that repeat throughout the show. Because you hear them in real conversations and dramatic moments, the vocabulary sticks much faster than if you were memorizing a list. It turns entertainment into an easy entry point for language learning.

What is Lingopie and how does it work with Netflix?

Lingopie is a language-learning platform that connects directly to your Netflix account. You watch the K-dramas you already enjoy, but now every subtitle is clickable with instant translations, flashcards, and review tools. It feels like a normal binge, but every episode doubles as a personalized language lesson.

Do I need to know any Korean before using Lingopie?

Not at all. Lingopie is designed for beginners, so you can start with zero knowledge and build as you go. The combination of subtitles, translations, and practice exercises makes it easy to follow along without feeling lost.

Is Lingopie only for Korean?

No, Lingopie covers several popular languages, including Spanish, French, Japanese, and more. However, it has become especially popular with Korean learners thanks to the global rise of K-dramas and K-pop. If you are starting with Korean, it is one of the most engaging tools you can use.

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