Definition

Noun: A Japanese dish consisting of very fresh, raw fish or seafood that is sliced into thin pieces and served without rice, typically accompanied by soy sauce, wasabi, and pickled ginger.

Usage

"Sashimi" is an uncountable noun. It refers to the prepared food item itself. You do not say "a sashimi" or "sashimis." To specify a type, you can say "a piece of sashimi" or "a plate of sashimi," or use the fish name as a modifier (e.g., "tuna sashimi").

Examples

• For our appetizer, we ordered sashimi and edamame.
• The chef's specialty is salmon sashimi with a special citrus sauce.
• I prefer sashimi to sushi because I enjoy the pure taste of the fish.
• This restaurant serves the freshest tuna sashimi in the city.

Advanced Usage

• As a culinary term: In professional kitchens, "sashimi" implies not just raw fish, but fish of the highest quality and freshness deemed safe for raw consumption, often specifically selected and prepared for this purpose.
• In contrast to sushi: While both are Japanese dishes, "sashimi" refers specifically to the sliced raw fish/seafood alone. "Sushi" refers to vinegared rice, which may be served with raw fish (nigiri) or other ingredients, but the rice is the defining component.

Variants and Related Words

• Sashimi-grade (adjective): A designation for fish that meets very high standards of freshness and handling, making it safe to eat raw. (e.g., "We need to buy sashimi-grade tuna for the dish.")
• Nigiri: A type of sushi consisting of a small ball of vinegared rice topped with a slice of fish (often the same fish used for sashimi).
• Sushi: The broader category of Japanese dishes based on vinegared rice, which may include sashimi as a topping.

Synonyms

• Raw fish: This is a descriptive synonym but lacks the cultural and culinary specificity of "sashimi," which denotes a prepared Japanese dish.
• Carpaccio: An Italian dish of thinly sliced raw meat or fish, often served with a dressing. It is a similar concept from a different cuisine.

Idioms and Phrases

• No direct idioms: The word "sashimi" itself is not commonly used in English idioms. It is primarily used in its literal, culinary sense.

Noun

1. very thinly sliced raw fish