照り焼き
teriyaki[te̞ɾʲija̠kʲi]
The English phrase "teriyaki" is 照り焼き in Japanese.
照り焼き refers to a sweet soy sauce marinade. The term describes both the cooking method and the specific sauce used, resulting in a characteristic shiny glaze.
Meaning: sweet soy sauce marinade (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of two parts: 照り (teri), meaning gloss or luster and 焼き (yaki), meaning grilled or baked.
How do you pronounce it?
teriyaki
Did you know?
- Because 照り refers to a luster or gloss, the phrase describes a visual quality that can be applied to non-food items. The same concept of 'teri' is used to describe the polished finish of high-end lacquerware.
- While often sold as a bottled sauce in English speaking countries, traditional 照り焼き is not a sauce but a technique of basting food with a mixture of soy sauce, mirin and sugar during the cooking process.
- Despite the popularity of 'teriyaki chicken' in the West, authentic 照り焼き is frequently applied to salmon or pork in Japanese home cooking.
Examples in context
- 私はレストランでテリヤキを注文しました。I ordered teriyaki at the restaurant.
- この料理には美味しいテリヤキソースがかかっています。This dish is topped with delicious teriyaki sauce.
- 今日のランチはテリヤキ丼にする？Shall we have teriyaki rice bowls for lunch today?
- テリヤキチキンが好きでよく作るんだ。I really like teriyaki chicken, so I often make it.
- 照り焼きの味は最高です。Teriyaki no aji wa saikou desu.The taste of teriyaki is the best.
- 今日の夕食は照り焼きにしましょう。Kyou no yuushoku wa teriyaki ni shimashou.Let's have teriyaki for dinner today.
- この照り焼きはとても甘いです。Kono teriyaki wa totemo amai desu.This teriyaki is very sweet.
Example conversation
Yui and Kenta are deciding what to eat for lunch.
- 結衣 Yuiお昼は照り焼きにする？Ohiru wa teriyaki ni suru?Shall we have teriyaki for lunch?
- 健太 Kentaうん、それがいいよ。Un, sore ga ii yo.Yeah, that sounds good.
- 結衣 Yui近くに美味しい店があるよ。Chikaku ni oishii mise ga aru yo.There is a delicious restaurant nearby.
- 健太 Kentaじゃあ、行こう！Jaa, ikou!Then, let's go!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 照り焼き, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
