味噌
Meanings
miso; fermented soybean paste
The staple Japanese fermented condiment, typically made from soybeans, salt, and koji.
I often have miso soup in the morning.
This miso is made only from soybeans.
crab/shrimp innards; tomalley; miso-like organ meat
Refers to the soft, paste-like innards of crabs, shrimps, and similar shellfish, named for its resemblance to miso.
The crab's innards are rich and delicious.
key point; main point; best part
Slangy use, often written in katakana as ミソ. Refers to the crucial or most interesting part of something, like the 'meat' of an issue.
That's not the key point of the story.
The main point of this plan is that it can be realized at low cost.
try (doing); give it a shot
Jocular slang imperative formed by attaching ミソ to the -te form of a verb; a pun on 見ろ (miro). Often written in katakana.
See also: 見る
Just give it a try for now.
Try playing this game once.
Usage patterns
- 味噌を溶くto dissolve miso (into dashi or water)
Dissolve the miso into the dashi stock, then turn off the heat.
- 〈物〉の味噌を食べるto eat the miso (innards) of a crab or shrimp
The crab's miso is rich and delicious.
- 〈事〉がミソだthat's the key point/trick (to something)
The trick to this dish is adding a hint of ginger as a secret ingredient.
- 〈動詞〉てみそtry doing (something), as a joking imperative
Just try eating it, for now.
- 〈物〉を味噌で煮るto simmer something in miso
Simmering mackerel in miso removes its fishy smell.
Expressions
- 味噌を擂るflatter; butter up; curry favor
- 味噌をつけるmake a mess of it; fail and lose face; embarrass oneself · spread miso (e.g. on konnyaku)
- 隣の糂粏味噌the grass is always greener on the other side
- 味噌も糞も一緒lumping good and bad together; treating everything as the same
- 糞も味噌も一緒lumping good and bad together; not distinguishing between good and bad; mixing the worthy with the worthless