おにぎり

noun

rice ball

1. rice ball, onigiri

A Japanese food made from white rice formed into triangular or cylindrical shapes, often wrapped in nori and containing a filling.

おにぎりを握(にぎ)る。

Make rice balls (by shaping with hands).

握る literally means to grip/grasp

I bought a rice ball at the convenience store.

I like rice balls with pickled plum inside.

My mother made rice balls for my field trip lunch.

Wet your hands with salt, shape the rice into a triangle, put salmon in the middle, and wrap it in seaweed, and the rice ball is done.

Also called お結(むす)び or 握(にぎ)り飯(めし). Shapes vary by region:

Common fillings (具(ぐ)):

A portable, affordable food popular for lunch (弁当(べんとう)), picnics, and convenience store snacks. The wrapper (海苔(のり)) keeps the rice moist.

Related Words

core

Added 2026.1.14 21:52 · Revised 2026.6.4 1:09

04500/04956_onigiri