German Phrase
Hast du schon mal versucht, Sushi zu machen?
Meaning
This sentence asks whether the listener has ever tried to make sushi themselves. It is informal and suitable for a casual conversation about cooking experiences or food interests.
When to use
Use it when chatting with friends, family, or classmates about culinary hobbies, when you want to compare cooking skills, or when you’re planning a sushi‑making night and want to gauge experience levels.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Hastduschonmalversucht,Sushizumachen?
Present Perfect with 'haben'
The auxiliary verb 'haben' is conjugated (Hast) and the main verb appears as a past participle (versucht). This tense is used for past actions with relevance to the present.
"schon mal" = ever
"schon mal" is a colloquial way to ask if something has ever happened; it can be replaced by "jemals".
"zu + infinitive"
After verbs like 'versuchen' you need the infinitive with 'zu' (zu machen). This construction expresses an attempt to do something.
Word order in yes‑no questions
In German yes‑no questions the finite verb moves to the first position (Hast du …?).
Indeclinable foreign nouns
‘Sushi’ stays unchanged in all cases; you do not add an article or ending.
🗨In Conversation
Hast du schon mal versucht, Sushi zu machen?
Have you ever tried making sushi?
Ja, ich habe es einmal probiert, aber das Ergebnis war nicht besonders gut.
Yes, I tried it once, but the result wasn’t that great.
✕Common Mistakes
Hast du schon mal versucht zu machen Sushi?
The verb ‘versuchen’ already requires ‘zu’ before the infinitive; you should not add another ‘zu’ after ‘versucht’.
Hast du schon mal versucht, zu machen Sushi?
In German the object comes before the infinitive with ‘zu’. The correct order is ‘Sushi zu machen’.
Hast du schon einmal versucht, Sushi zu machen?
‘Schon einmal’ is acceptable but sounds more formal; in casual speech native speakers prefer ‘schon mal’.
Hast du versucht, Sushi zu machen?
Missing ‘schon mal’ changes the nuance; the sentence then asks about a specific past attempt, not about any past experience.
↔Alternatives
Hast du jemals Sushi selbst gemacht?
Have you ever made sushi yourself?
Hast du schon einmal versucht, Sushi zu Hause zu rollen?
Have you ever tried rolling sushi at home?
Warst du schon mal dran, Sushi zu kochen?
Have you ever been the one to cook sushi?
Cultural Tip
Sushi has become a popular DIY trend in Germany, especially with the rise of sushi‑making kits sold in supermarkets. While the word ‘Sushi’ is borrowed from Japanese and stays unchanged, the preparation methods can vary regionally – some people use rice‑vinegar mixes that are milder than the traditional Japanese seasoning. When asking this question, keep the tone light; Germans often appreciate modesty about cooking skills, so a follow‑up like ‘Wie ist es dir gelungen?’ (How did it turn out?) is welcomed.