海老
ebi[e̞bʲi]
The Japanese word for prawn is 海老, also known as ebi.
海老 refers to a large shrimp or prawn.
Meaning: large shrimp (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The kanji used in 海老 literally mean 'sea old man'.
How do you pronounce it?
ebi
When do people say it?
Eating 海老 is a traditional custom during New Year's celebrations in Japan because the curved back resembles an elderly person, symbolizing longevity.
Did you know?
- One theory suggests ebi may have evolved from an ancient word for 'grape' due to a perceived similarity in color.
- The name 海老 is a 'jukujikun' reading, meaning the kanji were chosen for their meaning rather than their sound.
Examples in context
- このレストランの「えび」は新鮮でおいしいです。The prawns at this restaurant are fresh and delicious.
- お祝いの席には「えび」の料理を用意しましょう。Let's prepare some prawn dishes for the celebration.
- 今日の晩ごはんは「えびマヨ」にしようよ。Let's have ebi-mayo for dinner tonight.
- 海老が大好きです。ebi ga daisuki desu.I love prawns.
- この海老はとても大きいです。kono ebi wa totemo ookii desu.This prawn is very large.
- 海老の天ぷらを注文しました。ebi no tenpura o chuumon shimashita.I ordered prawn tempura.
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are looking at a menu at a restaurant.
- 健太 Kenta美咲、何にする？Misaki, nani ni suru?Misaki, what are you having?
- 美咲 Misaki私は海老のパスタにします。watashi wa ebi no pasuta ni shimasu.I'll have the prawn pasta.
- 健太 Kentaいい選択だね。ii sentaku da ne.That's a good choice.
- 美咲 Misaki健太はどうするの？Kenta wa dou suru no?What about you, Kenta?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “prawn” translations and entries 海老, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 海老, CC BY-SA 4.0.
