noun
herring roe
Refers to the salted or dried roe of herring, a traditional Japanese food often eaten at New Year's.
おせち料理には数の子が欠かせません。
Herring roe is indispensable in New Year's dishes.
数の子の塩抜きをする。
I desalt the herring roe.
Rarely used kanji form.
Compound of 数 (kazu, 'number') + の (no, possessive particle) + 子 (ko, 'child'), literally 'many children', referring to the large number of eggs in herring roe.