寿司

• Pinyin: shòu sī
• Hanzi breakdown: 寿 = phonetic component for shòu; 司 = phonetic component for sī (both chosen for sound, not meaning)

Meaning

Sushi. Japanese cuisine consisting of vinegared rice with various toppings.

A loanword from Japanese referring to the popular dish of seasoned rice topped or wrapped with raw fish, vegetables, or other ingredients. Very common in modern Chinese urban culture, found in restaurants ranging from casual to high-end. Also written as 寿司 in simplified Chinese.

Examples

1. 周末我们去那家新开的日料店吃寿司吧。 Let's go to that newly opened Japanese restaurant for sushi this weekend.
2. 她最喜欢三文鱼寿司，每次必点。 She loves salmon sushi the most and orders it every time.
3. 自己在家做寿司其实并不难，关键是米饭要调好味。 Making sushi at home isn't actually difficult — the key is seasoning the rice properly.

Usage Guide

Context: food, dining, everyday

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 这家店的寿司很新鲜。(The sushi at this restaurant is very fresh.)
• 我想学做寿司。(I want to learn how to make sushi.)

Don't Say

• 中国寿司 — sushi is specifically Japanese; for similar Chinese dishes with rice and fish, use specific names

Origin & History

Phonetic borrowing from Japanese すし (sushi). 寿 means longevity and 司 means to manage, chosen for their sounds rather than meanings.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal