鯖
mackerel
Readings
On'yomi
- セイ
- ショウ
Kun'yomi
- さば
Meaning
鯖 centers on the mackerel, a specific type of fish. The meaning is concrete and does not extend into abstract senses.
Most common words using 鯖
- 鯖さば
mackerel (esp. the chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus)
- しめ鯖しめさば
soused mackerel; vinegared mackerel
- レン鯖レンサバ
web hosting service
- 串鯖くしさば
mackerel skewer
- 丸鯖まるさば
blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus)
- 二条鯖にじょうさば
double-lined mackerel (Grammatorcynus bilineatus)
- 本鯖ほんさば
chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus)
- 真鯖まさば
chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus)
- 秋鯖あきさば
autumn saba; mackerel caught in autumn
- 胡麻鯖ごまさば
blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus)
- 青鯖あおさば
mackerel (esp. the chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus)
- 鯖折りさばおり
forward force down
- 鯖猫さばねこ
mackerel tabby (cat); gray tabby
- 鯖節さばぶし
dried, smoked mackerel; shavings from dried, smoked mackerel
- 鯖落ちサバおち
server outage (e.g. in an online game)
- 鯖雲さばぐも
cirrocumulus cloud; mackerel sky
Study
Etymology
鯖 combines 魚 (fish) with 青, which likely contributes the sound. The character was created specifically for the mackerel.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is a fish 魚, and the right side is blue 青. Picture a blue-backed mackerel: the fish with the blue color.
Reading mnemonic
For セイ, imagine a mackerel saying its name: 'say' (セイ) — the fish says 'say' as it swims by.