French Phrase
Comment tu fais des sushis japonais ?
Meaning
This informal question asks someone to explain the steps they use to prepare Japanese‑style sushi. It’s a direct, conversational way to request a recipe or cooking method.
When to use
Use it when you’re chatting with a friend, a cooking class mate, or a chef you know well and you want to learn how they make sushi. It’s too casual for a formal interview or a written request.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Commenttufaisdessushisjaponais?
Comment (question word)
Introduces a 'how' question; placed at the beginning of the sentence.
tu (subject pronoun)
Second‑person singular informal pronoun; matches the verb form.
fais (verb faire)
Present tense of ‘faire’ for ‘tu’; means ‘to do / to make’.
des (partitive article)
Indicates an indefinite quantity of something, here ‘some sushi.’
sushis (noun, plural)
Borrowed from Japanese; in French it can stay singular or take an –s for the plural.
japonais (adjective)
Adjective meaning ‘Japanese’; agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
🗨In Conversation
Comment tu fais des sushis japonais ?
How do you make Japanese sushi?
Je commence par cuire le riz, je le mélange avec du vinaigre, puis j’ajoute du poisson frais, de l’avocat et du nori.
I start by cooking the rice, mix it with vinegar, then add fresh fish, avocado and nori.
✕Common Mistakes
Comment tu fais les sushis japonais ?
Using the definite article ‘les’ implies a specific set of sushi, while the question is about the general method; ‘des’ (some) is more natural.
Comment tu fais des sushis japonais ?
In a more formal context, ‘préparer’ or the impersonal ‘prépare‑t‑on’ sounds more polished.
Comment tu fais des sushis japonaises ?
The adjective must agree with the masculine noun ‘sushis’; it should be ‘japonais’, not ‘japonaises’.
↔Alternatives
Comment prépare‑t‑on des sushis japonais ?
How does one prepare Japanese sushi?
Tu peux me dire comment faire des sushis japonais ?
Can you tell me how to make Japanese sushi?
Quelle est ta recette pour les sushis japonais ?
What’s your recipe for Japanese sushi?
Cultural Tip
In France, sushi has been popular since the 1990s, but many people adapt the traditional Japanese recipe to local tastes—using ingredients like smoked salmon or cream cheese. When you ask this question, be aware that the person might give you a ‘French‑style’ version rather than a strict Japanese method. Also, remember that sushi is traditionally eaten with chopsticks or fingers, and saying ‘merci’ after the explanation is considered polite.