えび
ebi
えび (ebi) is the Japanese word for shrimp or prawn.
えび refers to shrimp or prawns. In colloquial restaurant settings, you will often see it combined with 天 (short for tempura) to form えび天, meaning shrimp tempura. For a more specific species, Kuruma Ebi (車海老) refers specifically to the Japanese tiger prawn.
What does it mean word for word?
When written with the kanji 海老, the word is composed of characters that literally mean 'sea old man'.
How do you pronounce it?
ebi
When do people say it?
Because of their curved shape and long life span, shrimp are traditionally eaten during celebrations like New Year's to symbolize longevity.
Did you know?
- The term 天 (ten) in えび天 (ebi-ten) is actually a clipped form of 'tempura', a dish that was heavily influenced by Portuguese cuisine via the Jesuits in the 16th century.
- A person might use the word えび (ebi) to describe a person's physical appearance in a derogatory or teasing way, specifically if they have a hunched posture.
- In traditional Japanese art, an ebi is often paired with a pine tree or a crane to create a visual symbol of a long and healthy life.
Examples in context
- えびが大好きです。ebi ga daisuki desu.I love shrimp.
- このえびはとても大きいです。kono ebi wa totemo ookii desu.This shrimp is very large.
- えびを焼いて食べました。ebi o yaite tabemashita.I grilled and ate shrimp.
Example conversation
A couple is choosing what to eat for dinner.
- 健太 Kenta今日の夕食は、えびにします。kyou no yuushoku wa, ebi ni shimasu.I will go with shrimp for tonight's dinner.
- 美咲 Misakiいいですね、えびの天ぷらはどうですか？ii desu ne, ebi no tenpura wa dou desu ka?That sounds good, how about shrimp tempura?
- 健太 Kentaそれは最高です！sore wa saikou desu!That would be amazing!
- 美咲 Misakiじゃあ、材料を買ってきますね。jaa, zairyou o katte kimasu ne.Then, I will go buy the ingredients.
