Friendly to Senior
Care · Conversation
昔、よくお料理を作られていたんですか？どんなお料理が得意でしたか？ — Did you used to cook a lot? What dishes were you best at making? (Care · Conversation, Friendly to Senior, JLPT N3)
You
昔、よくお料理を作られていたんですか？どんなお料理が得意でしたか？
むかし、よくおりょうりをつくられていたんですか？どんなおりょうりがとくいでしたか？
Did you used to cook a lot? What dishes were you best at making?
Romaji: Mukashi, yoku oryouri wo tsukurareteitan desu ka? Donna oryouri ga tokui deshita ka? / Reply Romaji: Sou desu ne, nikujaga ya oyaki wo yoku tsukurimashita yo.
Reply
そうですね、肉じゃがやおやきをよく作りましたよ。
そうですね、にくじゃがやおやきをよくつくりましたよ。
Let me think... I used to make nikujaga (meat and potato stew) and oyaki quite often.
Gesture & etiquette
Lean slightly forward with a warm, curious expression. Nod gently as they begin to recall. Make comfortable eye contact without staring. Have a notepad ready to write down dish names if they share — this shows genuine interest.
Asking about cooking memories is a wonderful way to connect with seniors — food memories are often vivid and emotionally rich. Use the honorific form 'tsukurareteitan desu ka' rather than 'tsukutteitan' to show respect.