台所
台所で料理を作る。
I cook in the kitchen.
A room where food is prepared and cooked.
台所には冷蔵庫と電子レンジがあります。
The kitchen has a refrigerator and a microwave.
母は台所で忙しく働いています。
My mother is busy working in the kitchen.
台所 is the most common term for 'kitchen' in Japanese, used in everyday contexts. It can also refer to a kitchen as a functional space in a home or restaurant.
Pro Tip
Remembering the word
Think of 台所 as 'the place where food stands' (台=stand, 所=place). This helps recall its meaning as a kitchen.
Word Origin
台所 is a native Japanese compound word. 台 (dai) means 'stand' or 'platform,' and 所 (tokoro) means 'place.' Historically, it referred to a designated area for cooking, often elevated or separated from the main living space.
Usage Notes
台所 is the traditional term, while キッチン is a loanword from English and is more commonly used in modern contexts, especially in urban settings. Both are interchangeable in most cases.