Definition

Noun: A thin, dark, salty liquid condiment made by fermenting soybeans, often with roasted grain, salt, and water. It is a fundamental seasoning in many East and Southeast Asian cuisines.

Usage

Soy sauce is primarily used as a seasoning, marinade, or dipping sauce. It adds a savory, umami flavor and a salty taste to food. - Add a tablespoon of soy sauce to the stir-fry. - Sushi is often eaten with a small dish of soy sauce for dipping. - The recipe calls for low-sodium soy sauce.

Advanced Usage

• "to be the soy sauce on the rice": An informal expression (primarily in certain Asian cultures) meaning something that is an essential, complementary, or finishing touch to a main element.
• As a base: Soy sauce is often used as a base ingredient for other sauces, such as teriyaki sauce.

Variants and Related Words

• Shoyu (n): The Japanese term for soy sauce, traditionally brewed with both soybeans and wheat.
• Tamari (n): A type of Japanese soy sauce, often thicker and made with little to no wheat, making it a common gluten-free alternative.
• Light Soy Sauce (n): A thinner, saltier soy sauce used for seasoning without darkening color significantly.
• Dark Soy Sauce (n): A thicker, less salty, and slightly sweet soy sauce, often aged longer, used for color and a richer flavor.

Synonyms

• Fermented soybean sauce: A descriptive synonym.
• Soya sauce: An alternative spelling, common in British English.

Related Phrases

• Soy sauce stain: A common phrase referring to a difficult-to-remove brown stain, often on light-colored clothing.
  • Be careful not to spill; soy sauce stains are notorious.

Related Idioms

• "As essential as soy sauce": Used to describe something indispensable within a particular context, especially in cooking or a cultural setting.
  • In her kitchen, a sharp knife is as essential as soy sauce.

Noun

1. thin sauce made of fermented soy beans