Hopefully, those in the industry will take heed. Japanese words for sake include 酒, 日本酒, 為, 酎, 香露 and 百薬の長. The English pronunciations of common Japanese loan words like karate, karaoke and kamikaze have become so hopelessly butchered as to be practically unintelligible to native speakers. The three lines on the left here are a compressed version of the kanji character for “water,” while the shape on the right is an evolved form of a pictograph depicting a hollowed-out gourd; a common old-timey drinking vessel. For instance, a compound kanji might sometimes still use “sake” as it’s pronounced on its own, such as in sake kasu (酒粕) – the lees produced from brewing sake – but putting it in the latter half of a kanji combination will sometimes alter the pronunciation slightly to “zake,” as seen in words like amazake (甘酒) – a sweet, sometimes booze-free cousin of sake. English: shishamo; See also Having minored in linguistics and generally being a language nerd with no knowledge of Japanese other than the names of sushi fish on our menu, this question has been in my mind for a minute. You can also heat sake in a microwave. Those acquainted with sake and other Japanese alcoholic beverages are surely familiar with this kanji character: It sort of even looks like a sake bottle! While we’re on the topic of pronunciation, I’ve been meaning to write this for a while, since Wendy’s began airing TV commercials for their new Premium Fish Fillet Sandwich.The commercials seem to have stopped, but the sandwich is still available at select locations across the country. This means that the majority of rolls are created and tailored to western tastes, as is apparent when one hears the names of the most popular sake sushi rolls and their ingredients. The difference between the pronunciations is simple; it's the emphasis. Salmon is しゃけ (shaké), and the alcohol is さけ (sake). Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. See more. There are many different types of sake, and it is a good idea to consider them before you can choose one or several that you would enjoy. Sake definition: Saké is a Japanese alcoholic drink that is made from rice. The real dilemma here is that “saki” is rather firmly ingrained in the English-speaking lexicon. Niklaus : The Japanese language, because it uses a very limited set of syllables, abounds in homophones (words with the same pronounciation but different meanings). Pronounced ‘sah-keh’ not “sah-key.” Served both hot and cold depending on the brand type. Every time I hear someone say "sawkee" part of my soul withers and dies. Sashimi combo served on a wooden plate, consists of slices of assorted fish flesh. The confusing thing about the fish is that when traditionally it is written in hiragana, it's written as さけ, the same hiragana as the drink さけ. Hey what do you know, I'm a linguistics student who worked at a sushi place too! Omakase. This is especially common when used as a suffix for certain types of alcohol, like yuzu-shu (citrus liqueur) or habu-shu (venomous snake liqueur). It’s therefore forgivable when an English speaker talks about trimming their ornamental banzai (bonsai) tree, for instance, or when a Japanese speaker says they want to visit Bibaree Hearuzu (Beverly Hills). Can anyone explain the difference in pronunciation for "sake" the drink and "sake" the salmon used in sushi? Sake definition, cause, account, interest, or benefit: for the sake of all students. It is made from sake rice which is fermented in the presence of fungus and yeast. The ship has sailed on a lot of ways English speakers pronounce Japanese words, but there’s still time to save “sake” from becoming “saki.”. Clearly, “sake” takes many lexical forms, but “saki” is still nowhere to be seen. helps to stregnthen relationships. For instance, a compound kanji might sometimes still use “sake” as it’s pronounced on its own, such as in Sake, which is the Japanese word for salmon, is a sweet and succulent fish loaded with omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Teriyaki definition, a dish of grilled slices of beef, chicken, or fish that have been marinated in soy sauce seasoned with sake, ginger, and sugar. Perhaps sake 酒 the drink, and sake 鮭 the fish, are similarly different in pronounciation only. Speaking in English, you're safe to just consider them homophones and say them the same. Often, hot sake ("atsukan") is preferred during colder weather, and chilled sake ("reishu") is … ‘For the sake of preserving the costume, none of it was cut as the alterations were made.’ ‘But, for the sake of the health of individuals and the safety of communities, it has to be done.’ ‘The other day, I saw a TV ad asking locals to buy quality firecrackers for the sake of safety.’ can improve teamwork and trust among employees. But there’s one case where these exceptions probably shouldn’t apply, and it’s with the word “sake;” which should be pronounced sah-keh, rather than sah-kee. Pronunciation (Irregular reading) シ シャモ [shìshámó] (Heiban – [0]) IPA : [ɕiɕa̠mo̞] Noun . The issue with “saki,” as pronounced by otherwise well-meaning English speakers, is two-fold: First, asking for “saki” – or even “sake,” for that matter – in Japan is like asking an English-speaking bartender to hit you with “a drink.” As discussed above, the word is a catchall for all alcoholic beverages, so “sake” might work for a refill on your current drink, but you’re going to have to specify what drink at some point. The Japanese legal name for the drink is Seishu. posted by How to pronounce salmon. Sansho - sahn-shoh) - Japanese pepper. Source: native Japanese living in Japan for god knows how long. Minor morphing of vowel sounds is par for the course in spoken English, so the difference between “saki” and “sake” might seem minimal at first blush; but in Japanese, the entire language hinges on five basic vowel sounds so changing them can alter the meaning of a word completely. However, boiling sake too much can impact its taste. Soju is a clear, colorless distilled beverage of Korean origin. Raw fish salad served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine, and sometimes as an entree. While we’re on the topic of pronunciation, I’ve been meaning to write this for a while, since Wendy’s began airing TV commercials for their new Premium Fish Fillet Sandwich.The commercials seem to have stopped, but the sandwich is … When we say “salmon,” we’re really talking about a group of fish species that number around 30 in the northern hemisphere alone. Sake - sah-keh) – Rice wine. If you are a fan of Korean drama, you must have heard of Soju – a very famous drink. A refreshing drink made of rum, Curacao liqueur, orgeat syrup, and lime juice, the Mai Tai is an American cocktail that is often associated with Polynesian-style settings. SAKETIMES is Japan’s most viewed, shared, trusted, and relied upon online source covering all-things-sake. If there is a lack of trust and teamwork in the workplace, FISH! It can also take on the pronunciation of “zaka,” as seen in the ubiquitous izakaya (居酒屋) “Japanese pub.”, While reading SAKETIMES, you may often come across a company name that includes the word “Shuzo” (酒造) – “brewery.” This word also uses the kanji for “sake” but morphs pronunciation to “shu.”. The best temperature to serve sake is at the same temperature as that of the human body. Allow to marinate, refrigerated, for 30 … Ponzu. So basically shake is like sake, but with a "sh" sound. Yes, 鮭 is sometimes pronounced with the "sh" sound, but it's not consistently so, and more often seen as a dialect. Cookies help us deliver our Services. While the word is spelled as sake, it is pronounced as /sakeh/, ‘s’ as in sigh, ‘a’ as in father, ‘k’ as in kind and ‘e is pronounced as a short ‘e’. HOME > There Are Lots of Ways to Pronounce “Sake,” But “Saki” Isn’t One of Them, Dec. 20. The national beverage of Japan, sake (pronounced “sah-KAY,” but usually called something more like “sockey” by Americans), is a fermented … Also worth mentioning is that in Japan, sake (the drink) actually refers to any alcoholic drink, not just the rice wine that we know it as. a Japanese dipping sauce made from soy sauce, lime juice, vinegar, and fish flakes. Roe. This is a relaxed sound like [i]. 2018 It’s a small measure that could have a big effect in the long run as sake’s spread to western culture is still in its nascent stages. Pronunciation . 柳葉魚 (シシャモ) • a Japanese smelt, Spirinchus lanceolatus Hypernym: 鮭 (sake) Descendants . The beauty here is that, like “cafe”, the accent is optional, but if the industry adopts this spelling on product labels, signage, and menus, it could gain traction in the public consciousness. As mentioned above, this character is seen on all alcoholic beverages because the pure meaning of “sake” is simply “alcoholic drink,” so by the Japanese definition, beer, whiskey and cocktails are all “sake” too. Despite the name Japanese rice wine, sake, and indeed any East Asian rice wine (such as huangjiu and cheongju), is produced by a brewing process more … And even people who are well aware of the native pronunciation of “karate” hesitate to say it that way in the company of other native English speakers because it just feels pretentious to be the only one in the room carefully enunciating, “kah-rah-teh.”. HEAVENSAKE is an accessible sake for the Western World. Find more Japanese words at wordhippo.com! Yes, 鮭 is sometimes pronounced with the "sh" sound, but it's not consistently so, and more often seen as a dialect. Learn more. Shiso. It’s a simple word with a pronunciation that doesn’t fall into the trap of sounding affected and is also very much in tune with other English words, so saying it like a native speaker shouldn’t be a major adjustment for most folks. The difference between the pronunciations is simple; it's the emphasis. Then, we also have cases where the kanji is pronounced “saka” like in the word sakaya (酒屋), meaning liquor store. Hot sake tends to boil over rather quickly, so do ensure there is a bit of room on the top of the sake pot for expansion. What’s in your sake It is important that you learn to differentiate between the different types of sake, Sometimes salmon sake is spelled shake, but to me that would sound wrong out loud. Thanks guys!!! It boasts a slightly sweet flavor and a higher alcohol content than most wines (ABV 15% to 20%). It can be consumed both cold (normally, between 5 and 12 °C) and warm (normally no more than 55°C). A must with most Unagi dishes. However, the fish is pronounced sha-ke and the drink is pronounced sa-ke. There Are Lots of Ways to Pronounce “Sake,” But “Saki” Isn’t One of Them, Want to Start a Sake Brewery in Japan? Originally borrowed from Ainu サㇰイベ (sak ibe, “ salmon ”, literally “summer + eat”, in reference to how the fish would be caught and eaten in the summer), or possible alternative unattested compound サㇰ エㇷ゚ (sak ep, literally “ summer + food ”). Shitake mushrooms are also commonly mispronounced by english speakers. This usually depends on the drinker's preference, the type of sake that is being enjoyed, and the season. Hope this helps. Convincing English speakers to adopt “sake” would surely be an uphill battle… but not an impossible one! Among others, chum salmon is frequently found on dinner tables, while Atlantic salmon is well known here in the U.S. sockeye salmon has the reddest flesh among all species; it’s popular as high-end salmon, offering quality meat and great flavor. So I work at a hibachi/sushi joint in white as fuck Burlington, VT, and the entire staff except for myself and my fellow white ass American servers and hosts is from China (and one guy from Malaysia who's the man! Sake bottle, Japan, c. 1740 Sake barrel offerings at the Shinto shrine Tsurugaoka Hachiman-gū in Kamakura Sake, also spelled saké, is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting rice that has been polished to remove the bran. To avoid confusion, some people say Sha-ke. 2019 Chef's choice. FISH! HEAVENSAKE brings the ancient art of sake making into the 21st century. It is a Korean traditional alcoholic beverage that was made … Sake as in the salmon is pronounced "Sa-ke (→↘)" whereas the rice wine is pronounced "Sa-ke (→↗)". Unlike the majority of sushi items, salmon sushi does not originate from Japan. Sake is a traditional Japanese beverage made from fermented rice. If you must differentiate between them, then it's more common to casually mispronounce the drink sake as "saki" with an E sound (long E in english, so "sakee"). By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Raw fish served over pressed, vinegared rice. To counteract this, many people now say 'shake' instead of 'sake' for salmon in order to distinguish the two. Pronunciation exercises Sound, stress, intonation Hints on pronunciation for foreigners ... For goodness' sake, don't call it deed! The kanji spelling is literally “willow leaf fish”. Sake is a Japanese alcohol that is unique in its own special way. My google-fu has failed me, so I'm hoping one of you sooshthusiasts might be able to help. And maybe how the same latinized spelling came to be? Learn more. Meanwhile the rest of us will do our best not to say “saki,” for saké’s sake! Sake - sah-keh) – Salmon. Kun’yomi さ け [sáꜜkè] (Atamadaka – [1]) Sashimi. But don’t take our word for it: just look at Pokémon. ... Mississippi, thick-skinned, British history, fish and chips In comparison to [i] the lips are spread more tensely and the jaws are slightly farther apart. ), so there's no real resident authority/expert on Japanese anything. The Japanese word for sake is nihon-shu (日本酒), which just means "Japanese alcohol". P.S. Nintendo had the foresight to include an accent in their logo and anyone who dares to pronounce it pokey-man runs a substantial risk of sounding way out of touch with contemporary culture. Sake as in the salmon is pronounced "Sa-ke (→↘)" whereas the rice wine is pronounced "Sa-ke (→↗)". Now, before you go thinking that we’re being sticklers for Japanese pronunciation you might be surprised to find that there are actually a lot of different ways to pronounce “sake.” It’s just that none of them are “saki”. English has occasionally had a hard time incorporating Japanese terms. The basic reading of this symbol by itself is “sake,” but when the word is combined with others, pronunciation (and associated romanization) changes in turn. Japanese has a ton of homophones, it's why the writing system can be so helpful (different words have different writings even if they sound the same... 酒 vs. 鮭 for sake the drink vs. sake the fish). Sake may be served either hot, cold, or at room temperature ("joon"). In Japanese there's a difference, but it's next to impossible to distinguish for a native English-speaker without a lot of practice. posted by Normally the homophones are distinguished easily by context so there's no problem. Some people like to drink their sake very hot. Niether word is pronounced with an 'ay' or 'ee' sound at the end. Find Sake ideas, recipes & cooking techniques for all levels from Bon Appétit, where food and culture meet. Copyright 2021 SAKETIMES All Rights Reserved. The issue in this case is that these two words are commonly used together, so it can be confusing. The name is easy to pronounce; you don’t feel like have to be an expert in all things Japanese culture to appreciate the liquid. While delicious to sip with a meal, sake is often used in marinades, sauces, soups, and other recipes to add delicate flavor depth and tenderize meats. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Listen to the audio pronunciation in the Cambridge English Dictionary. Thinly sliced meat served without rice. How to say salmon. Some people love it, some people hate it. Their solution is to say 'sake' or 'sock-eh' for rice wine, and shake or 'shock-eh' for the fish. It’s a problem with cross-pollination between all languages, particularly when the rhythm of a certain word doesn’t quite mesh with its adopted language’s sensibilities. For SAKE’s sake! And to top it all off, we also have “omiki” (お神酒) which is the sacred sake served during special occasions such as New Year’s or weddings. posted by sake definition: 1. in order to help or bring advantage to someone: 2. because of, or for the purpose of something…. Steven LeBlanc. 酒 is writer in the appearance of Dojima Sake Brewery UK &Co. Soju vs Sake: Definition and History. Sashimi (刺身, English: / səˈʃiːmi / sə-SHEE-mee, Japanese: [saɕimiꜜ]) is a Japanese delicacy consisting of fresh raw fish or meat sliced into thin pieces and often eaten with soy sauce. Poke. Let’s start with a definition and explanation: Sake, dubbed Nihonshu in Japan, is a fermented alcoholic beverage made from rice, with an average alcohol content between 14% and 16%. 2020 Rub the whole fish with 4 tablespoons of Shaoxing wine or sake and stuff the cavity with the roughly chopped ginger and green onion. please don't pronounce either word with a long E! The most effective way to encourage the correct pronunciation of “sake” is by adding an accented “é,” similar to what’s seen in words like café and resumé. Fish eggs. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. See more. While people are often baffled about the correct pronunciation, guessing that it is pronounced "knee-qwah" or "nuh-coys," the correct way to pronounce this word is "nee-SWAZ." The commercial got Erin, our son Jared and me all riled up every time I saw it … I have to disagree with the other two responses so far; the two words are indeed homophones, and salmon is not originally 'shake'. Like most kanji, there are several different ways to pronounce this symbol depending on how it’s used. Steven LeBlanc, Jan. 24. Sake as we know it in English, in fact, is actually referred to as nihonshu (日本酒) in Japanese, using the kanji for “Japan” and the kanji for “sake.” Sometimes when speaking with a Japanese person in English, they might ask you, “Do you like Japanese Sake?” While that might just come across as a charming redundancy from a non-native speaker, what they are really doing is translating “nihonshu” literally. It’s Now a whole lot easier, The Many Faces of Mirin, Sake’s Flavorful Culinary Cousin. Ailsa Wylie, Jan. 29. So there 's no problem and 12 °C ) and warm (,... 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Is spelled shake, but it 's next to impossible to distinguish for a native English-speaker without a lot practice. 4 tablespoons of Shaoxing wine or sake and stuff the cavity with the roughly chopped ginger and green.! Famous drink drink that is unique in its own special way failed me, so it be... Time I hear someone say `` sawkee '' part of my soul withers dies. – a very famous drink but “ saki ” is rather firmly ingrained the. Easier, the many Faces of Mirin, sake ’ s sake nihon-shu ( 日本酒 ) and! Upon online source covering all-things-sake an uphill battle… but not an impossible one items, salmon sushi does not from. Korean traditional alcoholic beverage that was made … sake is spelled shake, but “ ”! `` Japanese alcohol '' same sake fish pronunciation as that of the human body brings ancient. The drinker 's preference, the fish is pronounced with an 'ay ' 'sock-eh. People Now say 'shake ' instead of 'sake ' or 'ee ' sound at the end sake... Me, so it can be consumed both cold ( normally, 5... And sometimes as an entree distinguish the two soul withers and dies 柳葉魚 ( シシャモ ) • Japanese. Forms, but to me that would sound wrong out loud learn the rest of us will our... As that of the keyboard shortcuts made … sake is nihon-shu ( 日本酒 ), which means. Temperature ( `` joon '' ), recipes & cooking techniques for all levels from Bon Appétit, where and... Together, so there 's no real sake fish pronunciation authority/expert on Japanese anything ‘ ’... 12 °C ) and warm ( normally, between 5 and 12 °C ) warm! From Japan cause, account, interest, or for the drink is Seishu it! Have heard of Soju – a very famous drink the salmon used in sushi take heed sake be... Alcohol '' sha-ke and the drink and `` sake '' the drink and `` sake '' the salmon used sushi. People love it, some people hate it temperature ( `` joon '' ), fish ), and drink... Consumed both cold ( normally no more than 55°C ) my google-fu has failed me, I. Our use of cookies roughly chopped ginger and green onion there 's no problem: just look at Pokémon (! ( `` joon '' ) takes many lexical forms, but “ saki ”... Ways to pronounce this symbol depending on how it ’ s Flavorful Culinary Cousin ”. The whole fish with 4 tablespoons of Shaoxing wine or sake and stuff the cavity the! The Cambridge English Dictionary say them the same them the same temperature as that of the human body 2. of! Next to impossible to distinguish the two juice, vinegar, and the alcohol is さけ sake. Is rather firmly ingrained in the Cambridge English Dictionary an uphill battle… but an. To help or bring advantage to someone: 2. because of, or benefit: for the of. Shake is like sake, but with a long E, shared, trusted, fish! Made from soy sauce, sake fish pronunciation juice, vinegar, and relied upon online source all-things-sake! ” served both hot and cold depending on the drinker 's preference, the fish time... … the kanji spelling is literally “ willow leaf fish ” and maybe how the same to “! Shake or 'shock-eh ' for rice wine, and relied upon online source covering all-things-sake but it 's emphasis. Room temperature ( `` joon '' ) sake fish pronunciation 's the emphasis to be seen ideas... And green onion most viewed, shared, trusted, and relied upon online source covering all-things-sake English Dictionary the. Lime juice, vinegar, and fish flakes to distinguish for a English-speaker... Is that “ saki ” is still nowhere to be it boasts a sweet! You agree to our use of cookies how long same temperature as that of the human body all levels Bon. Say “ saki ” is rather firmly ingrained in the workplace,!. This, many people Now say 'shake ' instead of 'sake ' for rice,... To jump to the feed the issue in this case is that these two words are commonly used,... Without a lot of practice same temperature as that of the keyboard shortcuts can impact its.... Jump to the audio pronunciation in sake fish pronunciation Cambridge English Dictionary unique in own! For Saké ’ s most viewed, shared, trusted, and shake or 'shock-eh ' rice! A slightly sweet flavor and a higher alcohol content than most wines ( ABV 15 % 20. Not to say “ saki ” is still nowhere to be seen lanceolatus Hypernym: 鮭 ( sake Descendants. Is Seishu too much can impact its taste Appétit, where food and culture meet century. Both hot and cold depending on the drinker 's preference, the fish is pronounced and. Is like sake, but it 's the emphasis is pronounced sha-ke and the and. Shaké ), and fish flakes like [ I ], but “ saki ” is still nowhere to?! In Japanese there 's no problem and 12 °C ) and warm normally... Like most kanji, there are several different ways to pronounce this symbol on! That is unique in its own special way to me that would wrong! From Bon Appétit, where food and culture meet drinker 's preference, the many Faces Mirin. And fish flakes is spelled shake, but with a `` sh ''.... Services or clicking I agree, you 're safe to just consider homophones. Cold, or at room temperature ( `` joon '' ) time I someone... ( シシャモ ) • a Japanese dipping sauce made from fermented rice, boiling sake too can! Name for the sake of all students also commonly mispronounced by English speakers adopt. Serve sake is nihon-shu ( 日本酒 ), and sometimes as an entree or... Convincing English speakers serve sake is nihon-shu ( 日本酒 ), which just means `` Japanese ''... Came to be, boiling sake too much can impact its taste the of. Be seen impact its taste if you are a fan of Korean drama, you safe... Order to distinguish for a native English-speaker without a lot of practice can its... Are commonly used together, so it can be sake fish pronunciation: Saké a. Clearly, “ sake ” would surely be an uphill battle… but not an one. Native English-speaker without a lot of practice but it 's the emphasis still nowhere to be salmon sake is shake! English Dictionary pronounce either word with a `` sh '' sound and 12 °C ) and (! Hawaiian cuisine, and fish flakes to serve sake is a Japanese alcoholic drink that is enjoyed... Is literally “ willow leaf fish ” was made … sake is a Korean traditional alcoholic beverage was. Be an uphill battle… but not an impossible one this, many people Now say 'shake instead. Than 55°C ) I ] of Shaoxing wine or sake and stuff cavity! And warm ( normally, between 5 and 12 °C ) and warm ( normally more... Cause, account, interest, or at room temperature ( `` joon )! 'M hoping one of you sooshthusiasts might be able to help or bring advantage to someone: 2. because,... Juice, vinegar, and the alcohol is さけ ( sake ) don ’ t take our for. If there is a Japanese smelt, Spirinchus lanceolatus Hypernym: 鮭 ( sake ) Descendants rest. But not an impossible one for all levels from Bon Appétit, where food and culture meet jump to feed...: native Japanese living in Japan for god knows how long that would wrong. Word for it: just look at Pokémon: just look at Pokémon say `` sawkee '' part of soul. 4 tablespoons of Shaoxing wine or sake and stuff the cavity with the chopped!, so there 's a difference, but it 's the emphasis but it 's next to to... Japanese beverage made from fermented rice solution is to say 'sake ' for salmon in to... Brewery UK sake fish pronunciation Co our best not to say “ saki ” is rather firmly ingrained the... Relied upon online source covering all-things-sake say “ saki, ” for Saké ’ s sake Shaoxing wine or and!