塩(しお)

しお

noun

salt

See also: 潮(しお) (tide, current)

1. salt

A white crystalline substance (sodium chloride) used for seasoning and preserving food. An essential cooking ingredient.

塩(しお)を少(すこ)し入(い)れてください。

Please add a little salt.

このスープは塩(しお)が足(た)りません。

This soup doesn't have enough salt.

塩(しお)と砂糖(さとう)を間違(まちが)えました。

I mistook salt for sugar.

塩(しお)は体(からだ)に必要(ひつよう)ですが、取(と)りすぎはよくないです。

Salt is necessary for the body, but taking too much is not good.

海(うみ)の水(みず)には塩(しお)がたくさん入(はい)っているので、飲(の)むことができません。

Seawater has a lot of salt in it, so you can't drink it.

塩(しお) is salt, one of the most fundamental seasonings in Japanese cooking.

Common expressions

塩(しお)を入(い)れる: to add salt
塩加減(しおかげん): salt seasoning (the right amount of salt)
塩味(しおあじ): salty flavor
塩焼(しおや)き: salt-grilled (fish, etc.)
塩(しお)漬(づ)け: salted/pickled

Related adjective

塩辛(しおから)い or しょっぱい: salty (taste)

Cultural note

Salt has spiritual significance in Shinto. 清(きよ)めの塩(しお) (purifying salt) is scattered at funerals and sumo matches. Small piles of 盛(も)り塩(じお) are placed at shop entrances for good luck.

Similar words

塩(しお): salt
砂糖(さとう): sugar

Related Words

Compare: 砂糖(さとう)

Compare: 天(てん)つゆ (tempura dipping sauce)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:56 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

00500/00887_shio