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.
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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 | 쌀 | ssal |
Soy sauce | 간장 | ganjang |
Sesame oil | 참기름 | chamgireum |
Garlic | 마늘 | maneul |
Ginseng | 인삼 | insam |
Cabbage | 배추 | baechu |
Radish | 무 | mu |
Red chili pepper | 고추 | gochu |
Green onion | 파 | 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 | 칼 | kal |
Pot | 냄비 | naembi |
Pan | 팬 | 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.
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.