Translation guide
In Japanese, expressing 'fresh fish' depends on whether you mean raw fish for sashimi, just-caught fish, or fish that is not frozen. The most common and natural way is to use 新鮮な魚 (shinsen na sakana) for general freshness, but specific terms like 刺身用 (sashimi-yō) or 活きのいい (iki no ii) are used in culinary or market contexts.
Describing fish that is fresh in quality, recently caught, and not spoiled. This is the most common meaning.
You can buy fresh fish at this market.
Fresh fish have clear eyes.
Literally 'fish with good freshness'. 鮮度 (sendo) refers to the degree of freshness. Slightly more formal or technical, often used in food industry contexts.
We stock fish with good freshness.
Means 'lively fish' or 'very fresh fish', often implying the fish is still alive or just caught. Common in fish markets and restaurants. 活き (iki) means 'alive' or 'lively'.
Please choose a lively (very fresh) fish.
Specifically referring to fish that is fresh enough to be eaten raw, as in sashimi or sushi. This is a distinct concept from general freshness.
Literally 'fish for sashimi'. This is the standard label in supermarkets and fish shops to indicate the fish is safe and intended for raw consumption.
Buy some sashimi-grade fish.
Means 'fish for raw consumption'. Similar to 刺身用 but more formal and often used in legal or health contexts. 生食 (namashoku) means 'eating raw'.
Emphasizing that the fish has never been frozen, often valued for texture and taste. Common in culinary contexts.
Literally 'raw fish', but in context can mean 'fresh, never frozen'. Be careful: 生 (nama) can also mean 'raw' or 'uncooked', so clarify if needed. Often used for sushi or sashimi.
This restaurant only uses fresh (never frozen) fish.
Explicitly means 'fish that has not been frozen'. Clear and unambiguous, but a bit wordy. Useful when you need to be precise.
Describing fish that is so fresh it might still be moving, or was caught moments ago. Common in fishing villages or high-end sushi restaurants.
Means 'just-caught fish'. 獲れたて (toretate) is a compound meaning 'freshly caught'. Very natural and common.
I ate just-caught fish as sashimi.
Specifically 'morning-caught fish', implying extreme freshness. Often seen at markets or on menus.
A style of sashimi where the fish is prepared and served while still alive or moments after being killed, to showcase ultimate freshness. Very niche, used in high-end dining.
The English loanword フレッシュ (furesshu) is sometimes used in Japanese, but it's not natural for fish. It's mainly used for concepts like 'fresh cream' or 'fresh juice'. For fish, stick to native Japanese terms.
新鮮 (shinsen) is the general term for freshness. 活きがいい (iki ga ii) emphasizes liveliness and is often used for fish that are still alive or very recently deceased. 生 (nama) means 'raw' and can imply 'fresh, never frozen' but is ambiguous; use with caution.
I want to buy some fresh fish for dinner.
This sushi restaurant only uses fresh fish.
For fish meant to be eaten raw, freshness is everything.
Fish that hasn't been frozen tastes better.
Morning-caught fish is exceptional.
I ordered ikezukuri (sashimi from a live fish).