酢飯(すめし)

すめし
noun
vinegared sushi rice
food
1. vinegared sushi rice
Rice seasoned with a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and salt, used as the base for sushi. Also called シャリ in sushi restaurant terminology.
酢飯(すめし)を作(つく)る。
To make sushi rice.
炊(た)きたてのご飯(はん)に酢(す)を混(ま)ぜて酢飯(すめし)にする。
Mix vinegar into freshly cooked rice to make sushi rice.
おいしい寿司(すし)を作(つく)るには、酢飯(すめし)の味(あじ)つけが大切(たいせつ)だ。
To make delicious sushi, the seasoning of the vinegared rice is important.

Usage

酢飯(すめし) is the standard term used in cooking. At sushi restaurants, the same rice is called シャリ, which is the professional/insider term.

Cultural note

酢飯(すめし) is made by mixing 合(あ)わせ酢(ず) (seasoned vinegar — a blend of 酢(す), 砂糖(さとう), and 塩(しお)) into hot cooked rice while fanning it to cool.

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 寿司(すし) (sushi)
Related: 寿司酢(すしず) (sushi vinegar)
Compare: 混(ま)ぜご飯(はん) (mixed rice)
Related: 飯台(はんだい) (wooden sushi-rice tub)
general
Added 2026.3.1 18:59 · Revised 2026.10.5 4:22
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