Japanese word

いわし

Pronunciation

Romajiiwashi

Meaning

  • nounsardine

Example

魚屋でいわしを買います。sakana ya de i wa shi o ka i ma su

I buy sardines at the fish shop.

Illustration for いわし (sardine)

More examples

夕食にいわしを焼きます。yū shoku ni i wa shi o ya ki ma su

I grill sardines for dinner.

Core concept

It refers to a small, oily sea fish that often forms large schools and is commonly used as food.

Common phrases

  • いわしの群れi wa shi no mu re

    a school of sardines

  • いわしを焼くi wa shi o ya ku

    grill sardines

Definition in Japanese

ニシン科の小型の海水魚で、群れをつくり、食用にされるもの。ni shi n ka no ko gata no kai sui gyo de mu re o tsu ku ri shoku yō ni sa re ru mo no

Word origin

The native Japanese word いわし (iwashi, "sardine") has an uncertain exact origin; one traditional explanation connects it with 弱し (yowashi, "weak") because the fish spoils quickly.

Usage tips

  • The English word sardine is a common name rather than a precise species name, so it can refer to several small oily fish, not only the fish called いわし (iwashi).

Other meanings

  • pilchardnoun

Word lists with this word