海老の天ぷら
ebi no tempura
Shrimp tempura is translated into Japanese as 海老の天ぷら (ebi no tempura).
This phrase refers to the classic Japanese dish consisting of shrimp that is battered and deep-fried.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ebi (shrimp), the particle no (a possessive or descriptive particle) and tempura (tempura).
Which one should you use?
While the default form uses the Kanji 海老 for shrimp, you can also write the word for shrimp in Katakana as エビ (resulting in エビの天ぷら).
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, the particle no is used to link the noun ebi to the noun tempura, effectively meaning 'tempura of shrimp'.
How do you pronounce it?
ebi no tempura
Did you know?
- The word tempura likely comes from the Latin word 'tempora' via Portuguese traders, referring to the 'tempos' or periods of fasting when Catholics were forbidden from eating meat.
- The Kanji for 'ebi', 海老, literally translates to 'old man of the sea'. This is due to the visual resemblance between the curved body of a shrimp and the posture of an elderly person.
- Traditional tempura is often served with a side of daikon radish, which is grated to help digest the oil from the deep-fried ebi.
Examples in context
- 海老の天ぷらを注文しました。ebi no tenpura o chuumon shimashita.I ordered shrimp tempura.
- 海老の天ぷらはとても美味しいです。ebi no tenpura wa totemo oishii desu.The shrimp tempura is very delicious.
- 今日のおすすめは海老の天ぷらです。kyou no osusume wa ebi no tenpura desu.Today's recommendation is shrimp tempura.
Example conversation
At a restaurant, Misaki and Hiroto are looking at the menu.
- 美咲 Misaki海老の天ぷらにしましょうか？ebi no tenpura ni shimashou ka?Shall we have the shrimp tempura?
- 大翔 Hirotoいいですね、大好物です。ii desu ne, daikoubutsu desu.That sounds good, it's my favorite.
- 美咲 Misaki大翔さんの好きなものを頼みましょう。Hiroto-san no suki na mono o tanomimashou.Let's order what you like, Hiroto.
- 大翔 Hirotoありがとうございます。arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
