English Reference

Word

shiitake

Phoneticsshi·itake

/ʃiˈtɑki/

Definition

n. a type of mushroom with a brown cap that is often used in Asian cooking. It has a strong, savory taste and is popular in soups and stir-fry dishes.

n. an edible mushroom, Lentinula edodes, native to East Asia and widely cultivated for its culinary and medicinal properties. Characterised by a dark brown, slightly convex cap and a tough, fibrous stem.

Examples

“I added sliced shiitake to the vegetable stir-fry.”

“The chef recommends using dried shiitake for the broth because they have a much deeper flavor than fresh ones.”

“While button mushrooms offer a mild profile, shiitake provides a meaty texture and intense umami that anchors the vegetarian ramen bowl.”

Examples

simple

“I added sliced shiitake to the vegetable stir-fry.”

contextual

“The chef recommends using dried shiitake for the broth because they have a much deeper flavor than fresh ones.”

complex

“While button mushrooms offer a mild profile, shiitake provides a meaty texture and intense umami that anchors the vegetarian ramen bowl.”

Usage

Countable when referring to the individual mushrooms; uncountable when referring to them as a food category or ingredient.

Real-World Examples

“Cook the chestnut and shiitake mushrooms with a pinch of salt over a medium-high heat until the mushrooms have released their moisture and begin to brown.”
BBC · 23 Feb 2026
“Soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in 350ml just-boiled water for 20 minutes, weighing them down with a small plate.”
The Guardian · 20 May 2023
“Shiitake mushrooms derive their name from the shii tree, where they are often found on decaying logs, and they been cultivated Japan since least the13th century.”
The Guardian · 21 Feb 2023
“In a medium bowl, coat the shiitake mushrooms with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and a generous pinch of salt.”
The New York Times · 24 Feb 2010

Etymology

From Japanese 椎茸 (shītake), a compound of 椎 (shī, "chinquapin tree") and 茸 (take, "mushroom"), named for the species' habit of growing on fallen chinquapin logs. First recorded in English in 1877.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Domains

BotanyCooking

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Updated

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English Reference