Translation guide
Sashimi is a Japanese dish of fresh, raw seafood or meat sliced into thin pieces. It is typically served with soy sauce, wasabi, and garnishes like shredded daikon. The word is widely used in English, so learners can often use it as-is. In Japanese, it refers specifically to the dish, not just any raw fish.
刺身
sashimi
The word is the same in English and Japanese, but in Japanese it specifically refers to the dish of sliced raw fish.
Referring to the Japanese dish of thinly sliced raw seafood or meat, served with condiments.
The standard Japanese word for sashimi. Use this in any context when talking about the dish.
今夜は刺身を食べたい。
I want to eat sashimi tonight.
この刺身はとても新鮮だ。
This sashimi is very fresh.
Polite form with the honorific prefix お. Commonly used in restaurants or when speaking politely.
お刺身の盛り合わせをください。
Please give me the sashimi platter.
Specifying the kind of fish or seafood used in the sashimi.
Attach the name of the fish or seafood to の刺身 to specify the type. Common fish include まぐろ (tuna), サーモン (salmon), たい (sea bream), かつお (bonito).
まぐろの刺身が一番好きです。
I like tuna sashimi the most.
サーモンの刺身を注文した。
I ordered salmon sashimi.
Ordering or describing sashimi in a restaurant or meal context.
A set meal that includes sashimi as the main dish, along with rice, miso soup, and pickles.
刺身定食を一つお願いします。
One sashimi set meal, please.
A platter of assorted sashimi, often with several types of fish.
刺身盛り合わせは二人前から注文できます。
The assorted sashimi platter can be ordered for two or more people.
Sashimi is just sliced raw fish without rice. Sushi (寿司) includes vinegared rice and may or may not have raw fish. If you want raw fish on rice, that's 刺身丼 (さしみどん) or 海鮮丼 (かいせんどん), not sashimi.
寿司と刺身は違います。
Sushi and sashimi are different.
Sashimi is eaten with chopsticks, dipped lightly in soy sauce. Wasabi may be placed directly on the fish or mixed into the soy sauce, though purists prefer it on the fish. It's often garnished with shredded daikon and shiso leaves.