# sushi

/ˈsuʃi/ (US) · /sˈuːʃi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sushi
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. Japanese rice dish

noun · CEFR A1

a Japanese food made of small pieces of cold rice with vinegar, often topped with raw fish or wrapped in seaweed.

For teachers: a Japanese dish of vinegared rice, typically served with a garnish of seafood, vegetables, or egg. While often associated with raw fish, the term technically refers to the prepared rice itself.

- We went to a Japanese restaurant and ordered a large platter of sushi to share.
- The chef demonstrated the precise technique required to shape the sushi rice without crushing the individual grains.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the cuisine, but can be countable when referring to individual pieces.

### 2. to prepare as sushi

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to prepare a specific ingredient, like fish or vegetables, in the style of sushi.

For teachers: to prepare or style a food item according to the conventions of sushi preparation. This usage is often found in creative or fusion culinary contexts.

- The chef decided to sushi the local trout for the fusion menu.
- The restaurant's signature move is to sushi non-traditional ingredients like smoked duck and pickled pear.

Teaching tip: This verbal use is quite rare and mostly found in trendy culinary circles or informal food writing.

## Examples

- We are going to eat sushi for dinner tonight.
- The chef carefully prepared the sushi by rolling fresh tuna and cucumber into sheets of dried seaweed.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.