Japanese word

かき

Pronunciation

Romajikaki

Meaning

  • nounoyster

Example

冬はかきがおいしいです。fuyu wa ka ki ga o i shi i de su

Oysters are delicious in winter.

Illustration for かき (oyster)

More examples

この店では新鮮なかきを一年中味わえます。ko no mise de wa shin sen na ka ki o ichi nen jū aji wa e ma su

You can enjoy fresh oysters at this restaurant all year round.

Core concept

Refers to the edible marine shellfish whose rough shell protects a soft body and whose flavor is associated with the sea.

Common phrases

  • かきフライka ki fu ra i

    fried oysters

  • 生かきnama ka ki

    raw oysters

  • かきの養殖ka ki no yō shoku

    oyster farming

Definition in Japanese

海にすむ二枚貝の一種で、殻の内側に身を持ち、食用にするもの。umi ni su mu ni mai kai no is shu de kara no uchi gawa ni mi o mo chi shoku yō ni su ru mo no

Word origin

The native Japanese noun かき (kaki) has no securely established word origin; 牡蠣 (kaki) is a kanji spelling used for this shellfish.

Usage tips

  • In English, oyster names a shellfish as well as the food made from it, so the same word appears in both seafood menus and descriptions of marine life.

Other meanings

  • oyster shellnoun

Word lists with this word