Japanese word

こしらえる

Pronunciation

Romajikoshiraeru

Meaning

  • verbmake

Example

毎晩、夕食をこしらえます。mai ban yū shoku o ko shi ra e ma su

I make dinner every evening.

Illustration for こしらえる (make)

More examples

急な来客のために、母が手早くこしらえました。kyū na rai kyaku no ta me ni haha ga te baya ku ko shi ra e ma shi ta

My mother quickly prepared a meal for the unexpected guests.

Core concept

Describes bringing something into a finished form through preparation and hands-on effort, whether it is useful, edible, or invented.

Common phrases

  • 料理をこしらえるryō ri o ko shi ra e ru

    prepare a meal

  • 夕食をこしらえるyū shoku o ko shi ra e ru

    make dinner

  • 弁当をこしらえるben tō o ko shi ra e ru

    prepare a packed lunch

Similar words

作るtsukuru: To produce, prepare, or invent something, including food, useful objects, and stories.
用意するyōisuru: To arrange what is needed so that a person, situation, or event is ready.
でっち上げるdetchiageru: To fabricate a story, excuse, or other account, usually with an implication of unreliability.
仕立てるshitateru: To shape or prepare something for a specific purpose, form, or user.

Definition in Japanese

材料や手元のものを使い、料理や品物などを工夫して作ること。転じて、事実でない話などを作り上げること。zai ryō ya te moto no mo no o tsuka i ryō ri ya shina mono na do o ku fū shi te tsuku ru ko to ten ji te ji jitsu de na i hanashi na do o tsuku ri a ge ru ko to

Word origin

The native verb こしらえる (koshiraeru) is the modern form of older こしらふ (koshirafu), meaning "to prepare" or "to make," and retains this basic sense of shaping something.

Usage tips

  • In conversation, it often gives making food or arranging something a hands-on, homely nuance, while the same verb can also describe fabricating an excuse or story.

Other meanings

  • prepareverb
  • fabricateverb

Opposites

Related words

  • こしらえkoshiraepreparationnoun

Word lists with this word