おかず
Meanings
1
side dish; accompaniment to rice
usually written using kana alonefood / cooking
Refers to small dishes served alongside rice in a Japanese meal; the core everyday meaning.
Tonight's side dishes are grilled fish and simmered hijiki.
When there are many side dishes, the rice goes down easily.
2
drum fill; fill-in
Colloquial music term for a drum fill; used among musicians.
The timing for putting in a drum fill is tricky.
3
masturbation material; jack-off material
Vulgar slang; often written in katakana as オカズ. Used for porn or anything used as sexual fantasy aid.
Search for jack-off material online.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉をおかずにするto use something as a side dish (to eat with rice)
I ate rice with the leftover grilled fish as a side dish.
- おかずを入れるto throw in a drum fill
He threw in a drum fill right before the chorus.
- おかずを作るto make/prepare side dishes
My mother makes three side dishes every day.