Salmon is a popular and delicious fish in Japan that is a key ingredient in many traditional dishes. Whether you’re visiting Japan and want to order salmon at a restaurant or are just curious about how to pronounce the Japanese word for salmon this article will teach you everything you need to know.
The Japanese Word for Salmon
In Japanese, the most common word for salmon is “鮭” (sake) This single kanji character is all you really need to know to say salmon in everyday conversation
Here are some key facts about the Japanese salmon word:
- It’s written with one kanji character: 鮭
- When romanized, it’s written as “sake”
- It’s pronounced as “sah-kay”
- It refers to salmon in general or any salmon species
So if you see “鮭” on a menu, you can just say “sah-kay” to order the salmon dish. It’s that simple!
Helpful Salmon Vocabulary in Japanese
While “鮭” covers salmon in general, you may come across more specific Japanese vocabulary for certain types of salmon:
- シロザケ (shi-ro-za-ke) – Chum salmon
- ベニザケ (be-ni-za-ke) – Sockeye salmon
- カラフトマス (ka-ra-fu-to-ma-su) – Masu salmon
- キングサーモン (kingu-sā-mon) – Chinook salmon
Knowing the names for popular salmon species will allow you to better understand Japanese menus using particular types of salmon.
Useful Japanese Phrases with Salmon
Here are some handy Japanese phrases that use “鮭” to talk about salmon dishes:
- 鮭の刺身 (sah-kay no sa-shi-mi) – Salmon sashimi
- 鮭の寿司 (sah-kay no su-shi) – Salmon sushi
- 鮭の塩焼き (sah-kay no shio-ya-ki) – Salt-grilled salmon
- 私は鮭が大好きです (wa-ta-shi wa sah-kay ga dai-su-ki de-su) – I love salmon
You can mix and match “鮭” with other words to describe any salmon dish in Japanese.
Listening to Proper Salmon Pronunciation
Hearing “鮭” pronounced by native Japanese speakers can ensure you get the “sah-kay” pronunciation just right.
Listen to this audio clip of salmon in Japanese:
[insert audio clip saying “sah-kay”]
Listening to the audio helps train your ear so you’ll be prepared to order salmon with perfect pronunciation.
Why Learning This Word Is Helpful
Knowing how to say the Japanese word for salmon – “鮭” – will make your trip to Japan much more enjoyable. Here are some of the benefits:
- Order delicious salmon dishes at restaurants and markets
- Understand salmon types on sushi menus
- Appreciate the preparation of salmon in Japanese cuisine
- Chat about your love of salmon with locals
- Impress Japanese friends with your language skills
No matter what draws you to Japan, being able to say “sah-kay” for salmon will serve you well on your travels.
Tips for Practicing the Word
Here are some tips to help you practice saying “鮭” accurately:
- Listen to audio of native speakers saying “sah-kay” repeatedly
- Break down the pronunciation by syllables: sah – kay
- Practice saying “sah-kay” slowly, then speed up
- Write out 鮭 in hiragana (さけ), katakana (サケ), and romanji (sake)
- Use flashcards with 鮭 on one side and salmon on the reverse side
- Quiz yourself by looking at photos of salmon and saying 鮭 out loud
With regular practice, you’ll be fluently saying salmon in Japanese in no time!
Putting It All Together
Whether you’ll be dining in Tokyo or talking with Japanese friends, knowing how to say salmon in Japanese is a valuable skill. With this simple guide, you now know:
- The basic word for salmon is “鮭” (sah-kay)
- Names of popular salmon types like chum and sockeye
- Useful salmon phrases to use at restaurants
- Proper pronunciation by listening to audio examples
- Tips to help memorize and practice saying “sah-kay”
Armed with this salmon vocabulary, you can fully appreciate the amazing salmon dishes that are integral to Japanese cuisine. So get out there, practice saying “sah-kay”, and order some incredible salmon sushi!
Salmon Nigiri with Assorted Toppings
A number of toppings can be enjoyed with salmon nigiri, especially at kaiten-zushi shops, which often come up with unique, non-traditional combinations for their sushi. Look for more traditional topping pairings like salmon with tobiko (flying fish roe) to more unusual combinations like salmon topped with shredded cheese or marinated salmon with mayonnaise and thinly sliced onion.
Ikura is salmon roe that has been marinated in soy sauce. When eaten in sushi, itâs typically served âgunkan makiâ, or âbattleshipâ, style. This type of sushi consists of a strip of nori seaweed wrapped around a ball of sushi rice, which creates a space at the top on which to spoon the loose ikura. The glistening orbs of ikura have a bright, jewel-like color and a buttery flavor.
Chirashizushi, which roughly translates to âscattered sushiâ, is a style of sushi where the toppings are lightly scattered over a dish of sushi rice. Salmon chirashizushi often includes finely shredded Japanese omelet and ikura salmon roe. In addition to raw salmon, smoked salmon or salted salmon flakes can also be used.
Zuke-salmon refers to salmon that has been marinated in either mirin, soy sauce, vinegar, sake, shio koji (fermented rice), and sake kasu (a pickling agent left over from the sake making process), or a combination of these. It may be used as a nigiri topping, or chirashizushi-style. The surface of the marinated fish can be grilled to create a sumptuous caramelization.
Aburi Salmon, Temaki & More… Find Your Favorite Salmon Sushi
Salmon sushi is often eaten ânigiriâ style, with a ball of vinegared sushi rice topped with a slice of salmon. Itâs commonly enjoyed with wasabi and soy sauce, or salt and a bit of citrus. Although cooked salmon is known as âsakeâ (pronounced âsha-kehâ) in Japanese, when ordering sushi itâs typically referred to as âsahmonâ.
Aburi nigiri is regular salmon nigiri sushi that has been broiled âaburiâ style with a blowtorch before serving. The fattiness of the salmon creates a richly grilled surface and a creamy center for every bite.
by mk-pick on Flickr
Saikyo miso originated in the Kyoto region and has a delicate, naturally sweet flavor that pairs wonderfully with the rich fattiness of salmon. Saikyo miso-broiled salmon nigiri sushi, made with salmon that has been marinated in saikyo miso and slightly cooked with a blowtorch.
by Roberto Maxwell on Flickr
Salmon harasu (belly) is the counterpart to tunaâs toro, or the fatty cut from the belly of the fish. Salmon belly is incredibly rich and also an uncommon menu item, so youâre more likely to find it in a proper sushi restaurant rather than a kaiten-zushi shop. If youâre lucky enough to spot it on a sushi menu, definitely be sure to give sake harasu a try.
Hosomaki are thin sushi rolls with nori seaweed on the outside, and sushi rice and fish on the inside. Salmon hosomaki from Japan was the inspiration for the âPhiladelphia rollâ thatâs popular in other countries, a sushi roll filled with salmon, cream cheese and cucumber.
Salmon temaki, or âhand rollsâ, are an easy way to enjoy salmon sushi. Theyâre made with a small sheet of nori seaweed topped with sushi rice, sliced salmon, and garnishes, thatâs rolled into an ice cream cone shape. Itâs very easy to hold and to eat-no chopsticks required!
Oshizushi, or âpressed sushiâ, is a traditional style of sushi that originated in the Kansai region in the west of Japan. Itâs made with a wooden mold into which sushi rice, fish, and other ingredients are added, then pressed to form a firm block shape. The sushi block can then be sliced into individual pieces in a triangle, rectangle, or square shape. Salmon oshizushi can be made with smoked, raw, or aburi-broiled salmon.
Japanese Sushi Vocabulary – Salmon, Tuna, Shrimp, etc. in Japanese!
FAQ
What is salmon called in Japan?
In Japanese salmon is referred to as “鮭” (sake/salmon) or “鱒” (masu/trout). The characters look different, but they are part of the same family and there aren’t clear biological categories to separate them into.
Is salmon in Japanese shake or sake?
Even among Japanese, opinions vary regarding the pronunciation for Salmon. These are the two basic ways: “sake” and “shake”. “Sake” is more commonly used, but “shake” is also not a mistake.