noun
dashi; Japanese soup stock
Fundamental Japanese cooking stock, typically made from kombu (kelp) and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes), or other ingredients like niboshi (dried sardines) or shiitake mushrooms.
味噌汁を作る前に、まずだしを取ります。
Before making miso soup, I first make the dashi stock.
この料理はだしが決め手
The dashi is the key to this dish.
noun
Only when written 出し · Only with reading ダシ
Used in the phrase 出しにする meaning to use someone or something as a pretext, excuse, or front. The person or thing is a means to an end, often deceptive.
See also: 出しにする
彼は私を出しにして、上司に取り入ろうとした。
He tried to use me as a pretext to get in good with the boss.
慈善団体を出しにして金を集めていた。
They were collecting money using the charity as a front.
Kanji spelling for the soup stock sense. Recognizable but kana is more common.
Derived from the verb 出す (to take out, extract), referring to the process of extracting flavor from ingredients. The pretext sense likely developed from the idea of 'bringing out' someone as a front.