鯖
saba[sa̠ba̠]
The English phrase "mackerel" is translated into Japanese as 鯖 (saba).
鯖 refers to the edible fish known as mackerel.
Meaning: edible fish (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is saba.
Did you know?
- The word 鯖 is a key part of the phrase 鯖を読む 'saba o yomu', which means to fudge numbers or exaggerate a count.
- In the world of online gaming and internet forums, 鯖 is used as a slang term for a 'server'.
- The word 鯖 is ancient enough to have been recorded in the Izumo Fudoki, a collection of chronicles completed in 733 CE.
Examples in context
- 鯖は煮ても焼いても美味しい。Mackerel tastes good whether you simmer it or grill it.This sentence is useful for describing how 鯖 can be prepared by simmering or grilling.Tatoeba #2737402 by tommy_san, translation #2737404 by CK
- スーパーで鯖が安かった。Saba ga yasukatta.Mackerel was cheap at the supermarket.
- 今日の夕飯は鯖の塩焼きです。Kyō no yūhan wa saba no shioyaki desu.Today's dinner is grilled salted mackerel.
Example conversation
At a grocery store, Yui and Yota are choosing ingredients for dinner.
- 結衣 Yui新鮮な鯖はありますか？Shinsen na saba wa arimasu ka?Is there any fresh mackerel?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、あちらにありますよ。Hai, achira ni arimasu yo.Yes, it's over there.
- 結衣 Yuiじゃあ、これにしましょう。Jā, kore ni shimashō.Then, let's go with this one.
- 陽太 Yotaいいですね、美味しそうです。Ii desu ne, oishisō desu.That's good, it looks delicious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “mackerel” translations and entries 鯖, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
