noun
cutting into thin shavings; shavings
Refers to a specific Japanese cutting technique where vegetables (often burdock root) are shaved into long, thin strips, as if sharpening a pencil. Also used for the resulting shavings themselves.
ごぼうをささがきにして、きんぴらを作ります。
I cut the burdock root into thin shavings and make kinpira.
ささがきにした野菜は火が通りやすい。
Vegetables cut into thin shavings cook quickly.
The term likely derives from the resemblance of the shavings to bamboo grass leaves (笹, ささ), with がき from 掻き (かき), meaning 'scraping' or 'shaving'.