dry snacks; otsumami
Refers to dry, often savory snacks like rice crackers, nuts, or dried squid, typically served with alcoholic drinks. Common in izakaya and home drinking settings.
I drank beer while ordering dry snacks at the izakaya.
An assortment of dry snacks is perfect as an accompaniment to alcohol.
Compound of 乾き (kawaki, 'drying', the continuative form of 乾く kawaku 'to dry') and 物 (mono, 'thing'). Literally 'dried thing'.