やばい · YABAI  ·  可愛い · KAWAII  ·  仲間 · NAKAMA  ·  侘び寂び · WABI-SABI  ·  生き甲斐 · IKIGAI  ·  木漏れ日 · KOMOREBI  ·  頑張る · GANBARU  ·  乙女 · OTOME  ·  刹那 · SETSUNA  ·    やばい · YABAI  ·  可愛い · KAWAII  ·  仲間 · NAKAMA  ·  侘び寂び · WABI-SABI  ·  生き甲斐 · IKIGAI  ·  木漏れ日 · KOMOREBI  ·  頑張る · GANBARU  ·  乙女 · OTOME  ·  刹那 · SETSUNA  · 
Dictionary Everyday Japanese わさび
わさび
わさび
WASABI
noun Everyday Japanese
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わさび

わさび

wasabi

=  wasabi / Japanese horseradish

Noun

Quick Reference

🔤 Reading わさび (wasabi)
📊 JLPT Level
🔖 Part of Speech Noun
💬 Meaning wasabi / Japanese horseradish

Meaning & Definition

Wasabi (わさび) is a pungent green paste made from Japanese horseradish. Adding fiery heat to sushi and sashimi, wasabi defines the taste experience of raw fish.

Wasabi is a rhizome plant native to Japan. Fresh wasabi is grated into paste. Real wasabi is expensive; most restaurants use wasabi-colored horseradish. Wasabi’s sharp heat hits the nose rather than the mouth. Applied sparingly to enhance sushi and sashimi. Wasabi is also used in noodles and other dishes.

How to Use It

Real wasabi is rare and expensive. Wasabi heat is nasal, not mouth-burning.

Kanji Breakdown

わさび is hiragana (traditional name)

Example Sentences

EXAMPLE 1

わさびが多すぎると、鼻が痛い。

Wasabi ga oosugiru to, hana ga itai.

Too much wasabi and your nose hurts.

EXAMPLE 2

寿司にわさびをつけて食べる。

Sushi ni wasabi wo tsukete taberu.

We eat sushi with wasabi.

EXAMPLE 3

本物のわさびは、本当に高い。

Hommono no wasabi wa, hontou ni takai.

Real wasabi is really expensive.

Cultural Context

Wasabi is essential sushi condiment.

Real wasabi is prized luxury ingredient.

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📖 Japanese for Beginners

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