鰻(うなぎ)

うなぎ
noun
eel
animal-fish
1. eel
A long, snake-like freshwater fish prized in Japanese cuisine, especially when grilled with a sweet soy-based sauce (kabayaki).
夏(なつ)バテ防止(ぼうし)に鰻(うなぎ)を食(た)べる。
I eat eel to prevent summer fatigue.
鰻(うなぎ)の蒲焼(かばや)きは日本(にほん)の伝統料理(でんとうりょうり)だ。
Grilled eel (kabayaki) is a traditional Japanese dish.
土用(どよう)の丑(うし)の日(ひ)に鰻(うなぎ)を食(た)べる習慣(しゅうかん)がある。
There's a custom of eating eel on the Day of the Ox during doyo.
Midsummer tradition in Japan

Cultural note

Eating 鰻(うなぎ) is especially associated with 土用(どよう)の丑(うし)の日(ひ) (Day of the Ox during the hottest period of summer), believed to provide stamina and prevent heat exhaustion.

Common dishes

  • 鰻(うなぎ)の蒲焼(かばや)き (grilled eel with sweet sauce)
  • うな重(じゅう) (eel over rice in a lacquer box)
  • うな丼(どん) (eel rice bowl)
  • 白焼(しらや)き (plain grilled eel without sauce)
  • ひつまぶし (Nagoya-style eel rice)

Note on sustainability

Japanese eel (日本(にほん)ウナギ) is classified as endangered. Conservation efforts are ongoing.

Related Words

Related: 鰹(かつお) (bonito)
general
Added 2026.1.17 12:13 · Revised 2026.9.2 11:55
06000/06105_unagi