肴(さかな)

さかな
noun
appetizer; snack to go with drinks
food
See also: 魚(さかな) (fish)
1. appetizer, snack to go with drinks, side dish for drinking
Food eaten as an accompaniment to alcoholic drinks. Can range from simple snacks to elaborate dishes served alongside sake or other alcohol.
酒(さけ)の肴(さかな)に枝豆(えだまめ)を注文(ちゅうもん)した。
I ordered edamame as a snack to go with my drink.
この店(みせ)は肴(さかな)の種類(しゅるい)が豊富(ほうふ)だ。
This place has a wide variety of appetizers.
手作(てづく)りの肴(さかな)を並(なら)べて、ゆっくり晩酌(ばんしゃく)を楽(たの)しんだ。
I lined up homemade appetizers and enjoyed a leisurely evening drink.
2. topic of conversation (for amusement), material for gossip
Something used as material for conversation or entertainment, especially when drinking. Often used in the expression 話(はなし)の肴(さかな) (something to talk about over drinks).
失敗談(しっぱいだん)を酒(さけ)の肴(さかな)にする。
Use tales of failure as conversation material over drinks.
人(ひと)の噂(うわさ)を肴(さかな)にするのはよくない。
It's not good to make gossip about others your entertainment.
旅行(りょこう)の思(おも)い出(で)を肴(さかな)に、旧友(きゅうゆう)と遅(おそ)くまで飲(の)み明(あ)かした。
Using travel memories as conversation material, we drank with old friends until late into the night.

Etymology note

Historically, 肴(さかな) was the original meaning of the word さかな — food to accompany sake. The meaning of "fish" (魚(さかな)) developed later because fish was the most common accompaniment to sake.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • つまみ: snack to go with drinks (more casual, everyday word)
  • おつまみ: snack to go with drinks (polite form of つまみ)
  • 酒肴(しゅこう): food to accompany alcohol (literary/formal)

Related Words

Compare: つまみ (snack to go with drinks)
Compare: おつまみ (snack to go with drinks)
general
Added 2026.2.27 16:05 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13929_sakana