Translation guide
The fish salmon, commonly used in Japanese cuisine. The English word 'salmon' can refer to the raw fish, cooked fish, or the color. In Japanese, there are different words for raw vs. cooked/grilled salmon, and for the fish vs. the roe.
Referring to salmon as a type of fish, either living or as a food ingredient in general.
General term for salmon, especially when cooked, grilled, or as a fish species. Can also refer to the living fish.
今夜は鮭を焼きます。
I'll grill salmon tonight.
Salmon are swimming up the river.
Loanword from English, often used for raw salmon (sashimi, sushi) or Western-style dishes. Can also refer to salmon as a flavor or color.
I like salmon sashimi.
She's wearing a salmon pink dress.
Specifically raw salmon, as eaten in Japanese cuisine.
The most common term for raw salmon in sushi contexts. Note: 'sake' (鮭) is less common for raw salmon because it often implies cooked or the fish species.
Three salmon sushi, please.
Literally 'raw salmon'. Used to emphasize that it is not cooked, but less common in everyday sushi ordering.
Raw salmon is eaten after freezing.
Salmon that has been cooked, especially grilled, which is a common home dish.
Salted salmon, a traditional preserved food often used in onigiri or as a side dish.
Salted salmon, often grilled before eating. A staple in Japanese cuisine.
I love salted salmon rice balls.
Salmon eggs, a popular sushi topping.
Salmon roe, often marinated in soy sauce. Note: 'ikura' is the standard term; 'sake no ko' is less common.
I ordered salmon roe battleship roll.
The color salmon, a pinkish-orange hue.
The color salmon pink, often used in fashion or design.
He's wearing a salmon pink tie.
鮭 (sake) is the native Japanese word and typically refers to cooked or grilled salmon, or the fish as a species. サーモン (sāmon) is a loanword and is strongly associated with raw salmon for sushi/sashimi, or Western-style dishes. When ordering sushi, saying サーモン is natural; saying 鮭 might confuse because it implies cooked fish.
At a sushi restaurant, you say 'Salmon, please.'
I bought a salmon fillet at the supermarket.
While 鮭 (sake) can technically refer to raw salmon, in modern Japanese, サーモン is the standard for raw salmon dishes. Using 鮭 for sushi may sound unnatural or old-fashioned.
I'll make salmon meunière.