刺身

• Reading: さしみ
• Romaji: sashimi
• Kanji breakdown: 刺 (sashi) — to pierce, stab; 身 (mi) — body, flesh
• Pronunciation: /sa.ɕi.mi/

Meaning

Sashimi; raw sliced fish or seafood. A cornerstone of Japanese cuisine served without rice.

Thinly sliced raw fish or seafood served with soy sauce and wasabi. Unlike sushi, sashimi does not include rice. Popular varieties include まぐろ (tuna), サーモン (salmon), and えび (shrimp). The quality and freshness of the fish is paramount, making it a dish that showcases the chef's skill in selection and cutting.

Examples

1. 新鮮な刺身をしょうゆとわさびで食べました。 I ate fresh sashimi with soy sauce and wasabi.
2. 今日はサーモンの刺身が安かったので買いました。 Salmon sashimi was cheap today, so I bought some.
3. 刺身はお父さんの一番好きな食べ物です。 Sashimi is my dad's favorite food.

Usage Guide

Context: food, restaurants, Japanese cuisine

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 刺 means 'to pierce' and 身 means 'body/flesh.' The name may refer to the piercing motion of slicing or to the practice of piercing a fin into the slices to identify the fish.

Cultural Context

Era: Medieval

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal