ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sushi

n. uncountable
A1 Beginner US //ˈsuʃi// UK //sˈuːʃi// sushi Archaic Informal

n. a Japanese dish made of small pieces of cold rice with vinegar. It is usually served with raw fish, vegetables, or egg on top or inside.

n. a Japanese culinary preparation consisting of vinegared medium-grain rice combined with various ingredients, most commonly raw seafood or vegetables.


SIMPLE

We are going to eat sushi for dinner tonight.

CONTEXTUAL

The chef carefully prepared the sushi by rolling fresh tuna and cucumber into sheets of dried seaweed.

COMPLEX

While many people associate sushi exclusively with raw fish, the term actually refers to the specific preparation of the rice, which is seasoned with a mixture of vinegar, salt, and sugar.

Origin

Borrowed from Japanese 寿司(すし) (sushi, “sushi (sour rice)”), ultimately from archaic conjugation 酸(す)し (sushi, “sour, vinegared”) of modern adjective 酸(す)い (sui, “sour, vinegared”).

Usage

Typically uncountable when referring to the cuisine or a meal, though it can be countable when referring to individual pieces or specific types.

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