Japanese word

生

Pronunciation

Romajinama

Meaning

  • nounraw

Example

野菜は生で食べてもいいです。ya sai wa nama de ta be te mo i i de su

You can eat the vegetables raw.

Illustration for 生 (raw)

More examples

この卵は生です。ko no tamago wa nama de su

This egg is raw.

生の魚は冷蔵庫で保存してください。nama no sakana wa rei zō ko de ho zon shi te ku da sa i

Please store raw fish in the refrigerator.

Core concept

Describes something that remains close to its original condition, including food that is uncooked and things that are newly made or gathered.

Common phrases

  • 生の魚nama no sakana

    raw fish

  • 生の野菜nama no ya sai

    raw vegetables

  • 生で食べるnama de ta be ru

    eat raw

Similar words

生ものnamamono: Food that is uncooked and usually spoils easily.

Definition in Japanese

食べ物などが、調理や加工をされていない状態。また、作られたり取れたりして間もなく、新しい状態。ta be mono na do ga chō ri ya ka kō o sa re te i na i jō tai ma ta tsuku ra re ta ri to re ta ri shi te ma mo na ku atara shi i jō tai

Word origin

生 (nama, "raw; fresh") is a native Japanese word with no securely established simple derivation; its traditional meanings include being alive, newly produced, and not cooked or processed.

Usage tips

  • The contrast between 生卵 (nama tamago), a raw egg, and ゆで卵 (yude tamago), a boiled egg, shows how 生 (nama, "raw; fresh") marks food that has not been cooked.

Other meanings

  • freshnoun

Word lists with this word