天ぷら

• Reading: てんぷら
• Romaji: tenpura
• Kanji breakdown: 天 (ten) — heaven, sky; ぷら is typically written in hiragana
• Pronunciation: /tem.pɯ.ɾa/

Meaning

Tempura; deep-fried fish and vegetables in a light batter. A beloved Japanese dish enjoyed worldwide.

Seafood, vegetables, or other ingredients coated in a light wheat-flour batter and deep-fried until crispy. Common tempura items include えび (shrimp), なす (eggplant), and かぼちゃ (pumpkin). Typically served with tentsuyu dipping sauce or salt. The batter should be light and crispy, not heavy or oily.

Examples

1. えびの天ぷらが一番好きです。 Shrimp tempura is my favorite.
2. 天ぷらを揚げるときは油の温度が大事です。 The oil temperature is important when frying tempura.
3. 昨日の晩ごはんは天ぷらうどんでした。 Last night's dinner was tempura udon.

Usage Guide

Context: food, restaurants, cooking

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Believed to derive from Portuguese 'tempero' (seasoning) or 'temporas' (Lenten fasting days). Portuguese missionaries introduced frying techniques to Japan in the 16th century.

Cultural Context

Era: Edo Period

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal