刺身
sashimi[sa̠ɕimʲi]
In Japanese, the phrase for raw fish is 刺身 (sashimi).
The term 刺身 refers specifically to the culinary dish consisting of fresh fish that is served uncooked and sliced into thin pieces. In a restaurant setting, using 刺身 implies high-quality, chef-prepared slices rather than just any piece of uncooked fish.
Which one should you use?
While 刺身 refers specifically to the dish of sliced raw fish, the term nama zakana (生魚) refers more generally to the biological state of being raw fish.
How do you pronounce it?
sashimi
Did you know?
- While 刺身 is usually associated with fish, the word 身 ('mi') refers to 'flesh' or 'meat' in general. This means the term can also describe raw slices of horse or beef, provided they are prepared in the same culinary style.
- The term 刺身 avoids the common verb for 'to cut', 切る (kiru), likely because using words associated with killing or cutting was historically avoided in certain culinary contexts.
- Historically, the word 刺身 is thought to describe how pieces of fish were once skewered onto wooden sticks for preparation or serving.
Examples in context
- 刺身、嫌いなんだよね？You don't like raw fish, do you?This sentence is useful for confirming whether someone dislikes 刺身.Tatoeba #9725221 by small_snow, translation #9725220 by CK
- お刺身を食べたいです。I want to eat raw fish.
- 生魚の美味しさに感動しました。I was impressed by the deliciousness of raw fish.
- 今日のランチは刺身にしよう！Let's have sashimi for lunch today!
- この刺身はとても新鮮です。Kono sashimi wa totemo shinsen desu.This raw fish is very fresh.
- 刺身とお酒を注文しましょう。Sashimi to osake o chuumon shimashou.Let's order some raw fish and sake.
Example conversation
Kenta and Yui are at a Japanese restaurant.
- 健太 Kenta結衣、刺身は好き？Yui, sashimi wa suki?Yui, do you like raw fish?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、大好きです。Hai, daisuki desu.Yes, I love it.
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、刺身の盛り合わせを頼もう。Jaa, sashimi no moriawase o tanomou.Then, let's order a sashimi platter.
- 結衣 Yuiいいですね、楽しみです！Ii desu ne, tanoshimi desu!That sounds good, I'm looking forward to it!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 刺身, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
