noun
Uncommon
sushi
SOO-shee
Sushi (noun) means a Japanese dish of vinegared rice, often paired with raw fish, seafood, or vegetables and sometimes wrapped in seaweed. Example: “We ordered a platter of sushi for the party.”
noun
1
A Japanese dish of vinegared rice, often paired with raw fish, seafood, or vegetables and sometimes wrapped in seaweed.
"For the vegetarians, she served cucumber sushi."
"He went to a Japanese restaurant and ordered sushi and noodles."
"We ordered a platter of sushi for the party."
"She learned to make sushi at home during lockdown."
"Our local restaurant serves fresh sushi on a little conveyor belt."
"'Can't eat sushi?' I said. Then Mom said, 'You can't eat uncooked fish when you're pregnant' as if I'm the one stupid enough to go and get pregnant!"
— Alison Acheson, Molly's Cue (2012)
How to use sushi
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA Japanese food built around vinegared rice, usually served with fish or vegetables.
Common mistake
Sushi refers to the seasoned rice dish as a whole, not specifically to raw fish — raw fish on its own is sashimi.
Common pairings
sushi roll
sushi bar
a piece of sushi
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Word forms
- Plural
- sushis
- Third person singular
- sushis
- Past tense
- sushied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
We ordered a platter of _____ for the party.
Etymology
From Japanese sushi, originally referring to the vinegared, "soured" rice rather than the fish itself.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “sushi” mean?
The word “sushi” means a Japanese dish of vinegared rice, often paired with raw fish, seafood, or vegetables and sometimes wrapped in seaweed. In plain terms, a Japanese food built around vinegared rice, usually served with fish or vegetables.
How do you pronounce “sushi”?
“Sushi” is pronounced SOO-shee (/ˈsuʃi/ in IPA).
How do you use “sushi” in a sentence?
Here is “sushi” used in a sentence: “We ordered a platter of sushi for the party.”
What part of speech is “sushi”?
“Sushi” is a noun.
Where does the word “sushi” come from?
The word “sushi” comes from Japanese. From Japanese sushi, originally referring to the vinegared, "soured" rice rather than the fish itself.
Is “sushi” a common word?
“Sushi” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between sushi and sashimi?
Sushi refers to a Japanese dish built around vinegared rice, often paired with raw fish, seafood, or vegetables and sometimes wrapped in seaweed. Sashimi, by contrast, is thinly sliced raw fish or seafood served without rice. Sashimi can be served alongside sushi but is technically a separate dish.
Does sushi always contain raw fish?
No. Sushi is defined by its vinegared rice rather than raw fish specifically; it is often paired with raw fish or seafood but can also include cooked seafood or vegetables. Vegetable-only rolls are still considered sushi because of the rice preparation.
Is sushi a countable or uncountable noun?
Sushi is typically used as an uncountable noun in English, as in some sushi or a lot of sushi, rather than sushis. Individual pieces are usually referred to as pieces of sushi or by specific names like rolls or nigiri.
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