noun
washing; rinsing
Only when written 洗い
General noun for the act of washing or rinsing something. Often used in compounds like 手洗い (hand washing) or 洗い物 (dishes to wash).
食後の洗い物が面倒だ。
Washing the dishes after meals is a hassle.
この石鹸は手洗いに適している。
This soap is suitable for hand washing.
noun
sashimi chilled in iced water
A dish of thinly sliced raw fish briefly chilled in ice water, giving it a firm texture. A traditional Japanese preparation.
鯛の洗いは、身が引き締まって美味しい。
Sea bream arai has a firm texture and is delicious.
料亭で初めて洗いを食べた。
I ate arai for the first time at a traditional Japanese restaurant.
Sashimi is raw fish served without the ice-water chilling step; 洗い is a specific preparation where the fish is briefly chilled in iced water.
The noun form of the verb 洗う (to wash). The food sense derives from the idea of 'washing' the fish in ice water.